< Previous20 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY HOMES also holds a family bathroom with a Juliet balcony and free-standing copper slipper bath, as well as a gym. Meanwhile up on the second floor there are three more bedrooms, one of which is used as a playroom. Moving outside of the property, up front there is a driveway leading to a double garage, and planted borders with a mix of shrubs and plants. To the back of the house the garden, with its far-reaching views of the relaxing Lincolnshire countryside, is on two levels and has a patio and a variety of trees, shrubs and plants. The bottom level hosts a football goal for Richard’s children. This is also why, as Richard said, the family “hasn’t had the chance to design the garden out with lovely plants.” He said: “For our current use, nice plants would be hit by footballs and cricket balls over and over. Everything would be trampled!” The home is also close to reservoirs making it the perfect location for those with dogs. Kingston, the perfect family home, is now up for sale. When asked why, Richard said: “We are just looking to advance forward. With our children ageing and our eldest finishing school, we feel like it’s the time to set the wheels in motion for our future plans.” The property is on the market for £735,000 with Mount and Minster. 16-21.qxp_Layout 1 19/07/2019 09:45 Page 5Since 1804 we’ve been carefully selecting the very ÄULZ[IYHUKZWYVK\J[Z & PKLHZMVY[OL people of Lincolnshire, `V\YMHTPS` HUK`V\YOVTLZ & Here for you never letting you down @V\Y6SKYPKZ +V^U[V^U;LHT & & Stores in Grantham NG32 2AB Boston PE21 7NL & PE21 6UF Scunthorpe DN15 6SU 16-21.qxp_Layout 1 19/07/2019 09:45 Page 622 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY TRENDS Last month, we encouraged readers to blur the boundaries between home and garden. This month, we’re focussing instead on inviting the natural world in. Now, we don’t just mean bringing in a bunch of plants and deckchairs, instead emphasise natural shapes, materials and colours. The straight line doesn’t exist in nature, so look for curves, while colours like cream, green and brown will all help to evoke a sense of nature. Pastel shades are also a great way of giving a room a light and airy feel that’s perfect this time of year. Of course, there’s plenty of products and style choices that fit this description, but it’s better to put a little extra work in and find pieces made from reclaimed or upcycled materials. Not only will they look better and last longer, but it’s also more sustainable. Now more than ever, sustainability is stylish, and we can recommend it highly enough. Inspired by 1 2 3 nature 22-23.qxp_Layout 1 19/07/2019 10:06 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 23 4 5 8 1) Made from natural wood, this floral nine drawer chest of drawers is part of Melody Maison’s Belle Range. It will be sure to add some character to a bedroom or study. 2) Made from 100% pure wool felt, this chair from fräch-Design will add a calming and sustainable edge to your décor. 3) The unique design of this wall hanging is made by burning a design into high-quality beech hardwood plywood. Designed and made by Glenouther Crafts and available via Kraft Space. 4) Holt’s stacking wooden structure gives it a playful yet sturdy look. Available from Swoon, the mid- century styling and industrial materials put this compact shelving unit in its own class of cool. 5) A fun playful piece from Red Candy. It’ll add a quirky touch inside the home and give the garden some identity. 6) Create that truly chic modern Nordic look in your home with this stunning Hudson Living oak nest of tables from Modish Living. 7) Made from natural cane with an intricate design, this occasional chair from Rose & Grey will look great in a garden or conservatory. 8) Release the exuberant beauty of the woods and take it home with this Evergreen framed print from Perch & Parrow. 7 6 22-23.qxp_Layout 1 19/07/2019 10:06 Page 2ARTISTIC LINCOLNSHIRE This month we take a look at the dramatic landscapes and moody coastal paintings of Heather Burton. Landscapes to lose yourself in @heatherdixonfeatures @heatherburtonyorkshireartist t seemed fated that Yorkshire-based Heather Burton was to become an artist, coming, as she does, from a family of keen amateur painters. Her mum studied at the Grimsby School of Art, while her father was a late bloomer, discovering his skills for watercolour painting in his late seventies. For Heather herself, it’s with the palette knife that she’s honed her specialism and artistic expression. Portraiture and figures were her first loves, but in more recent years she’s developed an appreciation for landscapes from moorlands to mountains, with a particular passion for coastal pieces. These pieces are meant to reflect the depth and diversity of the North of England and Scotland. Each of them captures the dramatic wild and timeless beauty of the coast in moody colour palettes that conjure at times the romantic coastal works of Turner. I 24 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 24-25.qxp_Layout 1 19/07/2019 10:07 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 25 THE LITTLE RED GALLERY Love art? Then we’d love to meet you, please call in for a cup of tea and a chat. The Little Red Gallery are feeling ‘Love’ with a fantastic range of pieces and perfect gift ideas. 8 Bailgate Lincoln LN1 3AE 01522 589134 8 St Mary’s Hill, Stamford, PE9 2DP art@thelittleredgallery.co.uk www.thelittleredgallery.co.uk Despite her early forays into the art world, commitments and family duties kept Heather from being able to indulge too much time to her palette knife. Firstly there was her career as a full-time journalist, working for homes and interiors titles. Drawing and painting were left as little hobbies until her daughters left home. Since then, however, Heather has become a full-time professional artist “The artistic world is vibrant, exciting – and flourishing, and I hope you will enjoy the paintings as much as I enjoy creating them” Heather Burton as well as continuing to write for national magazines. Her work sells through exhibitions and galleries throughout the north of England and Heather has picked up several major accolades through the years. She was First Prize Winner of the Ferens Open Exhibition 2015 and Winner of SAA Artist of the Year 2016 Landscape category to name but a few. Heather’s work will be on display at a number of galleries and exhibitions through the rest of this year, with a solo exhibition at Scampston Hall in Yorkshire starting this August. If you’d like to see some of her works for yourself, head down to the Little Red Gallery in Lincoln. You can also see more of Heather’s work by visiting www.heatherburtonyorkshireartist.co.uk. 24-25.qxp_Layout 1 19/07/2019 10:07 Page 2A t this time of year our garden is ideal for enjoying the summer days and evenings. However it is also the time of year when we go away. It is a great nuisance when you have spent time tending to your garden or the majority of your veg patch is on the cusp of ripening and you are going away and leaving it to die, overgrow or wither. With a little bit of planning you can make sure that your garden is looked after while you are away. Watering your garden and veg patch is essential and if you do not have a helpful neighbour of family member to help there are some things you can do. A day 26 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY Going on holiday or just away from home for a while can be a fun escape, but it can be stressful to leave the garden behind. Ed Fuller from Fullers Landscaping explains what steps they take to minimise the damage. © Shutterstock / sanddebeautheil or so before you leave weed your beds. Weeds compete for water and so removing them will ensure your plants get all the water. Just before you leave water your veggies deeply, and then spread the soil with compost or mulch. This will ensure the soil beneath remains damp for as long as possible. If you do not have compost or mulch then a few days before you are leaving cut the grass and leave the clippings next to the beds. They can then be used a few days later as mulch. Your lawn will also look better when you get back if it has been cut just before you go! Move pots and containers to a shady 26-27.qxp_Layout 1 19/07/2019 10:08 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 27 place so that they do not dry out as quickly. You can also make your own basic self-watering system. You will need a bucket full of water which is raised up, maybe on some bricks and then place the pots and containers around it. The water level in the bucket needs to be higher than the top of the pots. You then need to give each pot a ‘wick’ and for this an old dishcloth would be ideal. You need to put one end of the ‘wick’ into the plant pot under the soil and the other in to the bucket. You may need to use a stone to weight down the end which is in the bucket. Just before you go give the plants a good soaking and top the bucket up to the rim. It is also worth remember for next year to water more deeply and less frequently from the start of the season. This encourages plants to send roots deeper and means they will cope better when they have times without water. Obviously you could always ask a friendly and helpful neighbour or family member to pop in and water for you. From a couple of weeks before you go keep check for pests in your garden and take action. A small problem can become a big problem while you are away and by taking action before you go will reduce your stress when you get back. Whatever you do just make sure that your weeding, mowing and hedge clipping is up to date before you leave. You will enjoy your holiday more knowing that your garden is not out of hand without you. Specialised Services in Garden Design Landscaping and Tree Maintenance Backed by a highly-skilled and experienced team, we’ve built our reputation on an ability to provide our clients with professional, tailored gardening and forestry solutions FULLERS Forestry & Landscaping Call 01522 868717 or 07867 510544 info@fullersforestry.co.uk l www.fullersforestry.co.uk www.landscapinglincolnshire.com Around the garden •Prune Wisteria •Deadhead flowering plants regularly •Keep watering containers and new plants •Feed containers, and even tired border perennials, with a liquid tomato food each week to encourage them to bloom into the early autumn. •Collect seeds from favourite plants •Inspect chrysanthemums for the first signs of white rust and take immediate action •Harvest sweetcorn and other vegetables as they become ready •Continue cutting old fruited canes on raspberries •Lift and pot up rooted strawberry runners •Most perennial weeds are best dealt with when in active growth. Apply a weed killer containing glyphosate •Keep ponds and water features topped up •Feed your soil with green manures © Shutterstock / audaxi 26-27.qxp_Layout 1 19/07/2019 10:08 Page 228 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY Not all “heritage” needs to be ancient or even historic. During the late C20th and early C21st new leisure, conservation and preservation interests have emerged creating a new heritage sites in many parts of the country as well as in Lincolnshire One manifestation of this here in our own county is the creation of a route, aimed at both walkers and cyclists, between Lincoln to Boston; the Water Rail Way. [WRW.] This mainly utilises the embankments built over the 18th and 19th centuries that transformed the Witham’s course between the two towns and that were later followed by the former Lincolnshire “Loop Line” railway. It therefore links the city of Lincoln with the ancient port of Boston – that is from cathedral to the “Stump”. The WRW was created by the Lincolnshire Waterways Partnership – a grouping of expertise from Lincolnshire CC, the East Midlands Development Agency and Sustrans the national cycling organisation. The name of the route itself is a subtle play on words and was chosen from entries to a competition; “Water” obviously referring to the river itself, “rail” to the former GNR railway and, as a combination of both a reference to the water rail (That is the bird). The history of the Great Northern Railway’s “Lincolnshire Loop Line”, which provides roughly threequarters of the WRW’s route, goes back to 1848. It opened in October that year as the company’s main line route from London (via Peterborough and Boston) to the north of England. Its construction took full advantage of, and was made much easier by, the work already done in embanking the river to improve both its navigation and fenland drainage. [See Lincolnshire Today; July 2019] In railway terms its importance was short lived however for by 1852 the “Towns Line”, running north from Peterborough via Grantham to Doncaster had by-passed both Boston and Lincoln. Its closure was a gradual affair however stretching from 1940 – when the first stations were closed - to 1981 but even so, some of its infrastructure, as well as the trackbed still survives, particularly examples of station buildings at Washingborough, Southrey, Stixwould and Kirkstead. The WRW is mostly surfaced and therefore carefully designed to be wheelchair accessible. The full distance is just over 32 miles (52 kilometres) and although it can be followed in either direction for those doing the full route it is usual to begin at Lincoln. There it leaves the city near Stamp End locks and heads surprisingly quickly out into the countryside and beyond Washingborough reaches Five Mile Bridge where a former bargee’s inn THE WATER RAIL WAY Following last month’s look at the River Witham we this time consider another aspect of its legacy for Lincolnshire. heritage Lincolnshire explored 28-29.qxp_Layout 1 19/07/2019 10:09 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 29 became a station and a modern footbridge has replaced a former vehicle ferry. At Bardney the WRW briefly leaves the river as winter and summer variations of the route become necessary to circumnavigate the Bardney Sugar Factory, (These also give the option of avoiding a possibly muddy section during the winter.) However, both walkers and cyclists have rejoined the river and railway by the time they reach Southrey. Here station platforms and impressive name boards remain as they do further on at Stixwould. Both railway and the Witham are now closely followed to Kirkstead where there’s another station that was also the junction of the Horncastle branch line. The route now changes river banks staying by the Witham but leaving the railway – now on opposite bank – for a pleasant road walk to Chapel Hill. Cyclists must now continue on roads, but a grassy public right of way beside the river provides an alternative route for walkers to reach Langrick Bridge where cyclists re-join. From Langrick the WRW follows both river and railway into the heart of Boston. Along the way it first passes Anton’s Gowt, where a lock gives access to the Witham Navigable Drains, and then the Boston marina before finally arriving at Boston’s Grand Sluice – the end of the trail. The WRW has also played an important, and deliberately planned, role in championing the work of (mostly) local artists by commissioning and featuring their work throughout the route; with a foresight that is perhaps a significant contribution to our future heritage. Along the entire route there are some fourteen major artworks plus other smaller ones, all to be enjoyed, and there are several benches as well where people can sit and relax. Amongst the major works, one of the first is seen near Stamp End. This is Paul Robbrect’s colourful “Lincoln Stump” which is as much architecture as art, and is a viewing platform. Also, just beyond Anton’s Gowt Paul (a Belgian architect) has constructed a second platform – the “Boston Pendulum”. Both are inspired by the architecture of Lincoln and Boston, the starting and finishing points of the WRW. Just after Washingborough a large bench made of railway sleepers will sorely tempt any passers-by to try it out. Nearby are some life-size Lincoln Red Cattle by Sally Matthews ingeniously constructed from scrap metal. Also, by Sally (and also life-size) are some Lincolnshire Longwool Sheep by the side of the trail near Kirkstead, their fleeces made of old drill bits. There are several wood carvings by Nigel Sardeson too. Situated near Bardney and Southrey are his massive “Pike”, “Curly Coat pigs” and “River Pillar” whilst the Anwick Forge has built a 4.5 metre steel and zinc archway of barley sheaves near Five Mile Bridge. Louth based Griffin Memorial stonemasons have carved a “fishy” sculpture from Lincolnshire limestone showing a trout and a grayling with an accompanying quotation from Alfred Lord Tennyson’s “The Brook”; this is sited between Langrick Bridge and Anton’s Gowt. All of these, along with others, constitute, perhaps as much as the trail itself, some of Lincolnshire’s future heritage. by Hugh Marrows 28-29.qxp_Layout 1 19/07/2019 10:09 Page 2Next >