< Previous60 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY FARM & COUNTRY LINK - MACHINERY that can make the job more efficient, and farmers will, ironically, snap it up at a moment’s notice. It’s that pro-active attitude towards making things work more effectively that ensures the UK market can still compete with our European neighbours, who often pay less in terms of wages and other associated costs. Cultivation equipment can range from ploughs to power harrows, or from rollers to strip-till drills, while harvest machinery can include anything from combines to chaser bins, or trailers to grain dryers. Sprayers can be mounted, trailed or self- propelled, or any equipment related to them such as nozzles, bowsers and nurse tanks. It’s never a single piece of kit and the costs can spiral out of control if you’re not careful. And that is a very real problem in the market right now, mostly as a result of how much supermarkets are paying farmers. The constant price squeezes, which are likely worsening due to the national living wage, do put a damper on the market as a whole. At least, that is how it seems on the surface. More difficult farming economies will force people to find efficiencies wherever they can, and there’s nothing more efficient than agricultural machinery. No number of men or women can work the same land faster, nor more accurately. It may be that the only way to survive is to do what we can to squeeze every last bit of efficiency out of the system and that’s going to require some high quality machinery. This demand hasn’t gone unnoticed by farmers, manufacturers or criminals. One recent fraudulent scam was highlighted in which farm machinery was sold at half or less the market value online. While the adverts claim the price cuts are due to cheaper manufacturing outside of the country, the reality is that no products are sold and the thousands of pounds in cost are soon squirrelled away by criminal gangs. Advice from the police and the industry itself is to never consider a purchase unless you can inspect the equipment yourself, often by visiting the premises and confirming its existence in person. The truth of the matter is often that the margins on farm machinery, particularly from sellers, is not as high as some farmers might feel. The difficulties faced by those in the agricultural sector are felt by all, even when it’s the farmers themselves who are out of pocket. Less money for farmers means less profit for farm machinery sellers, which means a drop in prices. While now might not be a convenient time to invest in farm machinery, it certainly is one of the best. Once the industry recovers, and it must because the country itself cannot survive without food grown, the price of farm machinery could very well increase. Better perhaps to invest now with a view to not only improving efficiency in a lean and difficult environment, but also to giving a farm the cutting edge when the market eases up. Though challenges for farmers lie ahead, not least of all the loss of migrant workers due to Brexit, the agricultural sector can help strengthen itself by keeping abreast of the latest machinery and equipment available. AI and other digital solutions are beginning to become commonplace in farms as even agriculture gets smarter. These are ways of tempering the coming challenges in the present. If there’s one thing the agricultural sector is it is resilient. 59-61.qxp_Layout 1 26/05/2021 08:15 Page 2© Shutterstock /Radu Cadar 59-61.qxp_Layout 1 26/05/2021 08:15 Page 362 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY COUNTY MOTORING Controlled acceleration Controlled acceleration 62-65.qxp_Layout 1 26/05/2021 08:17 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 63 COUNTY MOTORING © Shutterstock /BELL KA P ANG As with most areas of the economy, the pandemic hit the motor industry hard. Although with the end of another lockdown – this one, it’s hoped, to be the last – the impact will be felt for months, if not years to come. One of the biggest concerns at present is that millions of Brits could be driving without a valid MOT. The issue arose after garages and test centres were shuttered in the wake of the outbreak, leading government to roll out an extension. However, figures from Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) indicate that up to two million cars could be driving illegally because motorists haven’t got their vehicles MOT tested after said extension. The DVSA data suggests that 19.5% of the vehicles eligible for a six-month MOT extension during the first national lockdown are yet to assessed. More startling still, those last cars to have benefited from the exemption for the compulsory test have now gone past the extended expiry date. According to a Kwik Fit report on the figures, 1.86 million vehicles still haven’t had a new MOT for an average of 3.4 months. Of course, this is only racking up issues for the later and, likely garages and testing specialists will be forced to contend with a massive backlog of customers – one of the issues it was hoped to avoid with the extension. It’s especially galling when, as the report points out, most vehicles were more likely to 64 Á Despite the end of lockdown, the motoring industry is still contending with the effects – from millions driving without a valid MOT, to learners struggling to secure testing spots. Lincolnshire Today explores. 62-65.qxp_Layout 1 26/05/2021 08:18 Page 264 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY COUNTY MOTORING your local trusted garage. Don’t let negligence cost you a £1,000 fine and your peace of mind. Another one of the challenges the motor industry has had to contend with concerns younger drivers – specifically the long period in which they were unable to take driving tests. The knock on effect being that there was less new car sales – at a time when the industry was already suffering with the lowest new car sales figures in twenty years. Because of these delays, learner drivers who had been ready to take their tests have, in many cases, had to return to basics in order to refresh and revise. Non-emergency tests were banned in early January due to COVID-19 restrictions but have now resumed. The ban on lessons, meanwhile, meant that learners had only the internet or simulators to rely on which – as anyone who drives can say – is simply no replacement for the real thing. pass the test due to cars covering fewer miles over the last years. Indeed, Kwik Fit estimates that the failure rate is as much as 10% lower than in a normal year. One can’t help call to mind the adage that one shouldn’t put off until tomorrow what one can do today. “It may be that shifting the expiry dates with the extension has caused the MOT to slip from drivers’ minds, or perhaps they have been using their car so little that they have forgotten about having it tested,” said Eric Smith, MOT manager at Kwik Fit. “Some owners may think that because they’ve not been using their car it will be just as they left it. However, parts will rust or wear with little use, bulbs may fail or windscreen wipers start to perish. We would urge drivers to make sure they are both safe and legal before heading out on to the road as restrictions ease.” Our advice here is simple – get a test booked in ASAP at 62-65.qxp_Layout 1 26/05/2021 08:18 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 65 COUNTY MOTORING © Shutterstock /Jevanto Productions As you can imagine, this has led to a backlog in learners hoping to take their tests. It had been difficult enough before to secure slots for tests now they have been described as finding gold dust. Analysis from PA found that the number of young drivers has plunged to a record low, impacted by the suspension of tests and lesson. To illustrate this, there are just 2.97 million people aged 16-25 who hold a full driving licence in Britain, down from 3.32 million in March 2020. “Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised by this fall in the number of full licence holders aged 25 and under in a year where the COVID-19 pandemic increased financial pressures for many, meant driving lessons and driving tests had to be suspended, and resulted in more young people being locked down in their family home,” said Director of the RAC Foundation, Steve Gooding. As with myriad other industries, motoring will continue to feel the effects of the pandemic for the foreseeable future. That’s on top of increased environmental pressures. Needless to say, the industry has its work cut out for it. © Shutterstock /AlikaKo Unit 3, Woodside Park, Station Road, Tetney, Grimsby. DN36 5HX Find An Experienced Motor Mechanic In Tetney, Near Grimsby n Servicing n MOTs n Repairs n Brakes & Tyres n Engine diagnostics n Car Batteries n Exhausts n ECU Remapping n Air Conditioning Testing/repairs/Re Gas VW, AUDI, SEAT & SKODA SPECIALIST Tel: 01472 812130 | www.lincsvwa.com 62-65.qxp_Layout 1 26/05/2021 08:18 Page 466 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY STAYCATION A staycation in Lincolnshire Lincolnshire is a prime location to be while staycationing, with a rich history, expansive countryside, vast coastline, and nature spots to explore. A staycation in Lincolnshire Lincolnshire is a prime location to be while staycationing, with a rich history, expansive countryside, vast coastline, and nature spots to explore. 66-71.qxp_Layout 1 26/05/2021 08:20 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 67 STAYCATION © Shutterstock /MaybeImaLeo As uncertainty and caution continue to surround thoughts on taking holidays abroad this year, there is plenty of fun to be had with staycationing, aka a holiday in your own home involving day trips or, as it has been expanded to mean, a holiday within the country. Though there are signs that travelling abroad may be allowed in the near future, most likely with a vaccine passport, many are choosing to skip any risk by staying at home. Fortunately for Lincolnshire locals the county, being full of variety, has a lot to offer. Lincolnshire enjoys a rich history and heritage sites, nature reserves, vast countryside, market towns, city spots, walking and cycling routes and 50 miles of coastline. If you have some holiday days that need using, Lincolnshire Today has myriad ideas on how to spend them. First up, consider planning a visit to the great English seaside. Lincolnshire is well known for offering a traditional seaside experience whether you are looking for a day trip or a short break. Skegness is famously a family friendly resort with its golden sands and attractions, from donkey to fairground rides. Wander the pier and promenade, play crazy golf, uncover the ocean’s depths at the aquarium, or spot rescued and rehabilitated seals, as well as reptiles, butterflies, and penguins, at Natureland Seal Sanctuary, amongst other classic seaside amusements. Mablethorpe and Cleethorpes can offer a similar experience. South of Skegness, Gibraltar Point National Nature Reserve can be discovered, an important habitat for numerous species, with a network of paths to guide you through intertidal habitats, freshwater marsh, and seashore. Something new can be seen every season - such as Skylarks in summer and waders in autumn - across the unspoilt coastline from Skegness to the south of The Wash. If you want to enjoy your staycation away from classic resorts, the county has plenty of natural coast to unwind at. Anderby Creek, just north of Chapel St. Leonards, presents a long stretch of quiet sandy beach, sand dunes and even has the purpose-built cloud bar, an official cloud spotting area recognised by the Cloud Appreciation Society. It also holds part of the ‘Structures on the Edge’ project, presenting a gallery of artistic architecture on the coast - among the sand dunes is the Round and Round House for bird watching. Nearby Chapel Point, meanwhile, once part of a coastal defence line in WWII, is great for walking 68 Á 66-71.qxp_Layout 1 26/05/2021 08:21 Page 268 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY STAYCATION and surfing and hosts seaside beach huts and the North Sea Observatory - the UK’s only purpose-built Marine Observatory. If you want to further dedicate your staycation fun to nature, there are a plethora of other facilities and nature reserves to view birds, animals, and plants in the county, particularly by the coast. Donna Nook, spanning from Grainthorpe Haven to Saltfleet - where it borders the Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe National Nature Reserve - is an important location for grey seals, being home to 40% of the world’s grey seal population, and all sorts of birds, including moorhens, coots, and meadow pipits. Donna Nook sees 47 regular visiting bird species and over 250 migrant bird breeds. Moreover Frampton Marsh is a key location for freshwater wildlife, presenting close views of avocets, redshanks, skylarks and whimbrels in the summer, and Freiston Shore is a Special Protection Area benefitting wintering, passage, and nesting birds. If you are not looking to visit the coast, there is plenty of nature to embrace and explore further inland, like the Lincolnshire Wolds, an area of outstanding natural beauty. Ideal for those who love the outdoors, whether you are looking for a trek or calm walk, experience 216 square miles of unspoilt countryside, rolling hills, hidden valleys, stone villages, market towns, and a range of animals and wildlife. While there are countless routes, the well-known Viking Way is a 147-mile path starting on the banks of the Humber, moving through Lincolnshire to the shores of Rutland Water. It passes through the Wolds, past Caistor and Horncastle, through the Witham Valley, to Lincoln and into North Kesteven and onwards. The trail hosts wildflowers and is used for hiking, walking, camping, and backpacking. Aside from natural wonders, there are many additional sites to take in in Lincolnshire, to dedicate your staycation days to. The county is full of historic locations that make for a nice day out. Grand houses, castles, and roman ruins wait to be found. Tattershall Castle for example presents a medieval tower on Lincolnshire’s flat fens, 17th century furniture and tapestries, and is surrounded by a wildflower meadow, while more medieval sites can be Photo courtesy of Auto Trail Motorhome Rental 70 Á 66-71.qxp_Layout 1 26/05/2021 08:21 Page 3Invest in your own Lincolnshire Holiday Home M1 M1 M1 M18 M18 M180 M180 A46 A46 A52 A52 A15 Barnsley 1hr 20mins Sheffield 1hr 15mins Derby 1hr 40mins Nottingham 1hr 30mins Lincoln 40mins Scunthorpe 30mins Doncaster 55mins Grimsby 20mins Drive Times Lincolnshire Wolds Mablethorpe Skegness Caistor Nettleton Park Nettleton Park is now fully open. See the Homes. See the facilities. Imagine being able to get away to your own safe, holiday home retreat whenever you like. Hidden away in the natural beauty of the Lincolnshire Wolds, Nettleton Park is the ideal location. Especially for those who like relaxing and active family holidays and weekend breaks. You can buy a home from just £20,000 and it’s an investment for life. Nettleton Park has great facilities for all the family and is set in acres of beautiful gardens with woodland walks. Come and see us soon. We’d love to chat! Visit us online! Find out more by having a chat with Dave Pope on 01472 851501 Take a virtual tour now at www.donamottparks.com/ nettleton-park Moortown Road Caistor, Lincolnshire LN7 6JQ T: 01472 851501 Golf Course Swimming Pool Fitness Suite Bowling Green Tennis Courts 3 Fishing Lakes Children’s Play Area Lounge with Pool & Table Tennis 66-71.qxp_Layout 1 26/05/2021 08:21 Page 4Next >