< Previous20 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY SIMPLY STAMFORD Q&A Can you tell us a bit more about how the two of you first founded the business? We worked together for 25 years in the travel industry sharing many work trips and holidays so, suffice it to say, we’re great friends. Over the years we often talked about how we would love to set up a business together. We both have a passion for home décor and interiors and have worked in and around Stamford over the years so we thought it would be a perfect combination. We searched for months to find the right property in the right location – we wanted a beautiful shop with character and large windows. When we viewed 2 St Marys Street, we knew straightaway it would be perfect for our new business, so within a week we had signed and sealed the deal. Simply Stamford was created and here we are. What effect has the pandemic had on the business and how have you adapted? We opened in December 2020. Knowing we were opening in the middle of a pandemic we made a conscious decision to do everything ourselves as we didn’t want to take on staff when it was likely we would go into another lockdown. Sadly, we were only open for 4 weeks and closed again at the end of December until we re-opened on 12th April this year. We successfully operated a click and collect service during lockdown and have subsequently launched our very own website (www.simplystamford.co.uk) so feel we can now appeal to both local and online shoppers. Since re-opening, we are delighted we have been able to add to our Simply Stamford team with Suzanna, Sue and Heather. What are some of the most exciting trends in home furnishings and accessories? We don’t always follow the latest trends, we just buy products we love that are both beautiful and useful! Our style is best described as unique, classic and timeless with Q&A Simply Stamford We recently chatted with Hannah Forcellati and Kate Needham, founders of homewares boutique Simply Stamford, about how the business was founded, what’s hot in home furnishings, opening in a pandemic and more. @simplystamford @simply.stamford 20-21.qxp_Layout 1 23/07/2021 08:26 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 21 SIMPLY STAMFORD Q&A a splash of colour and bit of sparkle! Some of the trends coming from Simply Stamford are: Global style by embracing distant shores Shining through our products is our love of travel, with choices reflecting a tastes and traditions of tribal Africa, India, the Far East, continental Europe, Scandinavia, and other exotic locations. Hark back to yesterday with vintage elements We love a bit of art deco glamor! Design style from the 1920s and 1930s in furniture and decorative pieces characterised by its geometric character. Choose a single statement piece Bring pops of colour into your home and make a statement with a single piece of furniture or decorative accessories. Use bold bright colours with an occasional chair, coloured jug, cushion or throw is a simple way to add colour to a room with a single purchase. As long as you love the look that’s all that really matters! How do you source new furnishings and accessories – do you keep it local, or take a more worldly approach to supply? We like to keep it local where possible but we also like to source the widest possible selection of products so we can give our customers something a bit different and the best possible range and choice. We are always on the look out to find new and exciting products to add to our ever-growing collection of home décor, furniture, home fragrance, beauty and gifts. What’s it like running a shop in historic Stamford? We are really proud to be part of Stamford life as it’s such a beautiful town and has everything you need, lots of restaurants, places to stay to suit all tastes, great selection of independent shops, river and historic buildings so it attracts locals and lots of people coming for the day or for a stay from all parts of the UK. We love being on St Marys Street as everyone is so friendly and supportive plus its full of local independent retailers including a selection of other home décor and interior shops, so it attracts a wide range of customers looking for new items for their home or gifts. We feel extremely lucky to have our shop in Stamford! To find out more, visit www.simplystamford.co.uk, or call 01780 481852. 20-21.qxp_Layout 1 23/07/2021 08:26 Page 222 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY While we may have the odd thundery shower this month the warm days will continue and so your garden will need a regular drink and your pond will need topping up due to evaporation. It is also worth bearing in mind that evaporation will be quicker from a pond if it is hot and windy. It is surprising how much the wind can reduce the water levels. Where possible use grey water. If you have a bird bath then keep this topped up too, however clean it regularly to ensure that you do not get mosquitos. You can continue to mow your lawn however make sure that you raise the blades if it has been extremely hot and dry. It is best not to apply a high- nitrogen fertiliser at this time of the year as this will promote vigorous growth which will not stand up to the rigours of winter. Fertilisers high in phosphates will instead promote root growth which will toughen up the grass ready for the winter ahead. You may not need to do as much weeding but make sure you keep on top of it and if you keep deadheading flowers this will help them continue for longer as they can put their energy into new flowers. Now is also a time to be keeping an eye out for insect, slug, and snail damage, and use the relevant repellents where necessary. They can cause lots of damage to plants, flowers, and vegetables if they are not kept under control. Now your garden looks good you might want to add some things to make it more user friendly. Fire pits are © Shutterstock / Dusan Petkovic space The sweetest This time of year is when we use our gardens the most and there are a few things you can do to ensure that your garden continues to look good as Ed Fuller from Fullers Landscaping explores. 22-23.qxp_Layout 1 23/07/2021 08:27 Page 1• 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 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 23 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 FREE NO OBLIGATION QUOTATIONS FULLERS Landscaping Call 01522 868717 or 07867 510544 landscapinglincolnshire@gmail.com www.landscapinglincolnshire.com Around the garden GARDEN ADVICE a good way to enable you to continue to use your garden long after the sun has gone down. There are many different styles, shapes, and sizes that you can get but they are a brilliant way to add form and function to your outdoor space. This could also be used in conjunction with some well-placed lighting. You can now get some good solar lighting so you may not need to get it hard wired in, and this can add to the ambiance of your garden. Now is also the time to be planning any major changes you want to make to your garden. By planning now and getting the work done over the winter you will have your garden makeover completed in time for next summer. However, the most important thing to do for the last few weeks of the summer is enjoy your garden. © Shutterstock / Dora Zett © Shutterstock / Rawpixel.com 22-23.qxp_Layout 1 23/07/2021 08:27 Page 224 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY GRASS CARE / AGRICULTURE Concerns over the use of chemicals in agriculture, gardening and even grass care continue to rise, with governments also stressing a need to reduce the use of such substances as public pressure builds. With this, the range of alternative and natural products supporting crop growth and health, and methods to address issues like pest control is expanding. The growing popularity of natural biostimulants illustrates this shift, which is accelerating as companies and consumers alike look to go green and farmers and growers look to produce more with less agrichemicals to minimise some of the negative side-effects agricultural practices have on the environment. Biostimulants, which can be applied to soil and turf and are able to stimulate the health of plants, are derived from microbial and non-microbial components (like humic acids, hormones, and enzymes), are often made from naturally occurring compounds and used in smaller quantities to promote plant growth. Seaweed/brown algae is a key source for biostimulants that is gaining closer attention. Gathered from the ocean, it is dried and refined through special processes to benefit crops with its trace elements, vitamins, enzymes, amino acids, carbohydrates, polyuronides, and growth regulating plant hormones. Biostimulants made from algae are being used on myriad different crops - from potatoes to tea - whether a knapsack, trailed or mounted sprayers, or planes are utilised. Using biostimulants such as this has many different effects including reducing the need for fertilisers (boosting uptake by enabling better rooting and photosynthesis, reducing leaching and loss to atmosphere) and pesticides (by improving crop health and resilience to pests, seeing pesticide budgets split into new areas). In addition, biostimulants can improve the efficiency of a plant’s metabolism, increase plant growth/yield, resistance to water as well as abiotic stresses like drought and other extreme weather conditions which are becoming Bolstering crops and lawns Biostimulants are growing in use, whether that be in the agricultural industry or in gardens, to help plants thrive. Meanwhile efficient machinery and utilising the latest systems remains vital to high productivity and cost and time savings. Biostimulants are growing in use, whether that be in the agricultural industry or in gardens, to help plants thrive. Meanwhile efficient machinery and utilising the latest systems remains vital to high productivity and cost and time savings. Bolstering crops and lawns 24-26.qxp_Layout 1 23/07/2021 08:29 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 25 GRASS CARE / AGRICULTURE more common, alongside aiding faster recovery from stressful events. While biostimulants are popping up more frequently in conversations concerning agriculture, they are also in the hands of firms involved in gardening and lawn care, be those residential lawns, sports pitches/courses, or other applications. Considering turf, using biostimulants in small amounts can enhance turf quality and performance, and help address difficulties in feeding turf where environmental issues prevent it and see turf suffer from abiotic stress. Biostimulants are able to stimulate plant nutrition processes, improving efficient use of nutrients and helping with use of confined nutrients in soil. This is in addition to enhancing microbial activity, adding microbial food, which is useful for sand sports pitches and constantly stressed grass which often means perennial grasses and their microbiology lack the food or substrate required for survival, as well as reducing leaching, improving soil structure, and in some cases increasing tolerance to disease. They can further assist turfgrass in surviving extended periods of distress, including heat, and are being utilised both preventatively and for recovery. Grassland managers and livestock farmers are employing biostimulants to boost grass growth too, but they are also being applied in everyday gardens, to form greener lawns. When it comes to pristine lawns, it’s all about the soil, grass roots and improving these. Increasing root mass will improve how a lawn looks and as soil contains endless amounts of beneficial bacteria to help grass roots develop and grow, biostimulant treatments are being applied throughout the year to enhance grass, feed said bacteria, and aid in recovery from stress. As a result, a lawn’s root mass can grow significantly, creating a stronger and resilient lawn. New grass is also established more rapidly. Just as people want less agrichemicals involved in their food, while it would be 26 Á 24-26.qxp_Layout 1 23/07/2021 08:29 Page 226 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY GRASS CARE / AGRICULTURE www.mjp.supplies • Tel: 01406 362325 • Mobile 07702293727 MJPSupplies mjpsupplies For the purpose of importing and selling Algifol™ biostimulant products to farmers and growers of specialist crops Watch your profits grow Small quantities Amazing results Special offer on 1 litre bottles bought direct from our website easy to pick up and use lawn care chemicals, weed killers and bug sprays to achieve the perfect lawn, worries amongst the general population over the impact of chemical use on health, particularly children’s, and animals, as well as on surface and groundwater is seeing more natural options turned to, whether that involves something as simple as removing weeds by hand, introducing natural enemies to deal with pests, using natural feeds, or choosing organic options. Biostimulants are just one aspect of a bio-based industry seeing innovation, investor activity and expanding to reduce chemical use, with other products like biopesticides also being employed, containing naturally occurring substances to control pests (usually a specific pest) via non-toxic mechanisms, making way for a more sustainable future for agriculture and gardening. This wave of change and focus on what is sprayed over crops, comes in hand with demands in agriculture for improved productivity and efficiency, cost cutting, time saving, and ensuring an enterprise is accountable. This is seeing services and contractors offering the latest, efficient machinery turned to - for foraging, harvesting, fertilising, cultivation, hedge cutting, mowing et al. - and fresh positioning, wireless and information technologies wielded, improving a farmer’s relationship with the land, allowing them to manage all aspects of agricultural operations - planting, harvesting, land levelling - to bolster productivity. GPS technology for instance is presenting precise guidance for field operations, collection of map data on tillage, applications, planting, weeds, insect and disease infestations, cultivation and irrigation. Meanwhile field data can be used to analyse management practices and uncover optimal strategies. © Shutterstock /Andrii Y alanskyi KEVIN JOHNSON - AGRICULTURAL CONTRACTORS “For those times when you need a helping hand on farm or on land” 4 Church Road | Wittering | Peterborough | PE8 6AG Tel: 01780 782924 | Mobile: 07860 608825 enquiries@kevinjohnsoncontracting.co.uk www.kevinjohnsoncontracting.co.uk • Fertiliser Spreading 12m to 36m • Lime Spreading • Maize Drilling • Grass Mowing with Triple Mowers 24-26.qxp_Layout 1 23/07/2021 08:29 Page 3Feeling lucky? Well then, you’ll want to peruse these fabulous giveaways and get entering to be in with a chance of winning some wonderful goodies courtesy of Poundstrecher. Winner, winner Winner, winner Enter now to win a wonderful beauty cream Keep hands well moisturised and smelling fresh with this anti- bacterial hand cream. Protect your hands and nails with this nourished hand cream from Beauties Skincare. We’ve got two to giveaway to a couple of lucky readers. All you need to do to be in with a chance is send an email with the subject heading ‘Beauty Cream Comp’ to competitions@blmgroup.co.uk. Win a set of stress-relieving Fidget gadgets We’ve got two sets of the fun, stress-relieving Fidget Range to giveaway comprising Pops, Snapz and Rings. Fidget Pops are a trendy bubble popping game that never ends; once you start you won’t want to stop. They’re great for helping with streets and anxiety or children with fidgety hands. Fidget Snapz can be squeezed, popped and snapped. With Magni Rings you can perform endless fun tricks, skills and moves which will keep you entertained for hours. Helps to curb fidgety hands and help you focus. To be in with a chance of winning, all you have to do is send an email with the subject heading ‘Fidget Comp’ to competitions@blmgroup.co.uk. Fancy winning the Fab Fresh Range for your home? We’ve got two sets of this Fab Fresh Range that’ll make your home sparkle like never before. The range includes the oven cleaner, formulated to tackle one of your toughest jobs in the kitchen; a kitchen cleaner that removes tough dirt, dust, oil stains and other grime without leaving any residue. There’s also the glass cleaner, perfect for quick and easy cleaning of your windows, glass and mirrors; and the furniture polish that protects your wooden surfaces against ordinary wear, water spills and stains, as well as creates a glorious shine! Lastly is the bathroom cleaner that has a unique power that thoroughly cleans soap scum, hard water stains and dirt, leaving a brilliant shine and a fresh scent. To be in with a chance of winning, simply send an email with the subject heading ‘Fab Fresh Range Comp’ to competitions@blmgroup.co.uk. 27.qxp_Layout 1 26/07/2021 13:39 Page 128 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY HAIR & BEAUTY What are PDO threads? Polydioxanone (PDO) threads are a special medical grade thread, similar to dissolvable surgical suture material. Research has confirmed that PDO relaxes tendons and muscles, whilst a foreign body reaction improves the blood flow to the area stimulating neocollagenesis (the production of new collagen in the skin). They come in different shapes and sizes to treat different areas and skin depths. These fall into three categories: • PDO mono threads. Smooth sutures that help rejuvenate your skin by stimulating collagen production. • PDO cog threads. These threads have barbs that latch into your skin like very small hooks, to provide support and lift parts of your face. • PDO screw threads. Made up of one or two intertwined threads, these are used to help restore volume to sunken parts of your skin. What are they used for in clinic? • Brow lifts • Sagging cheeks • Jowls • Nose to mouth folds • Sagging jaw line • Neck lifts • Double chins • Breast lifts • Sagging body skin Is it a safe procedure? PDO thread lifts have a much lower risk of complications than facelift surgeries. Complications may occur, but are usually easily corrected. Potential complications include: • Visible threads (especially in people with thin skin) • Pain • Bruising • Infection • Snapping of threads • Dimpling • Swelling • Salivary gland injury • Decreased sensation Lift and rejuvenate A thread lift is a procedure that can tighten and lift your skin. It’s a less invasive and much more cost-effective procedure than facelift surgery and can often be performed in under 45 minutes without needing to go under a scalpel and little recovery downtime. Sarah Barker at Flawless Aesthetic Clinic explores everything you need to know. 28-29.qxp_Layout 1 23/07/2021 08:30 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 29 HAIR & BEAUTY However, in the right hands these risks are considerably reduced and PDO threads are generally safe. I was the first nurse to train in PDO threads in the UK in 2011 and regularly teach and assess fellow nurses and doctors to perform the procedure. The treatment must take place in Care Quality Commission (CQC) clinic by a doctor or nurse professionally trained to minimise risks. The procedure You’ll likely be advised to avoid alcohol and tobacco use at least 24 hours before your procedure, along with anything else that may increase the risk of bleeding or bruising, such as: • Advil and ibuprofen • aspirin • omega-3 fatty acids • green tea or green tea extracts On the day of your procedure, your medical practitioner will talk you through the potential complications and give you advice about your recovery. In general, it will probably look something like this: 1. As you sit in a reclined seat, your practitioner should disinfect your face. They’ll apply a topical anaesthetic cream, for cogs they will inject local anaesthetic with a needle under your skin to numb a larger area. 2. For monos or spirals they will be inserted and you will unlikely feel any pain as they are extremely thin. If cogs are being used, they will then make a small hole/incision with another needle and then insert a device called a cannula into the small hole. 3. Your practitioner will then adjust and anchor the cog thread into place and pull out the cannula. 4. They’ll finish by cutting the thread and making sure it’s secure in place. You’ll be free to go home shortly after the procedure and usually be given an aftercare leaflet and some patients even go straight back to work. PDO thread lift recovery and aftercare Recovery from a PDO thread lift is minimal. You may have some swelling and bruising for the first 24 to 72 hours, but you can return to most of your daily routines right away. You should avoid washing your hair for 24 hours after cogs and rubbing your face as much as possible the week after your procedure to avoid accidentally dislodging the thread. You’ll also likely be advised to avoid overexerting your facial muscles such as opening your mouth for dental procedures for a few days. You may want to avoid for 1 to 2 weeks and to try not sleeping on your side, intense exercise, and saunas. Great results turning back the clock! The results are natural looking, impressive and last approximately 2 years with many returning customers loving the results! “I love the way people can’t figure out I’ve had some cosmetic work done, they just say I’m looking well or asking if I’ve been away,” – Flawless Aesthetic Clinic Customer Feedback. For more information about this and other treatments contact Sarah Barker at Flawless Aesthetic Clinic www.flawlessaestheticclinic.co.uk or call 07841389233. 28-29.qxp_Layout 1 23/07/2021 08:30 Page 2Next >