< Previous30 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYREADERS’ GARDENSare open and lapping up sunshine.The couple have a passion for roses,and while they don’t dominate, examplesof Diana Remembered, Fire and Ice andWhite Feathers are dotted around, mostsignificantly on an antique pagoda whichis a weathered, yet elegant way totraverse the garden.The sheer amount of flowers on offer isstaggering too, with many grown fromseed too. There’s a wonderful apricotfoxglove for example as well as unusualexamples like salvia turkestanica whichrises to be noticed from the bed.A beautiful example of soberia standsproud too, with large, fern-like leaveswhich turn bronze in the winter.Elsewhere there is a hot bed whichemerges later in the year, containingdahlias, heliums, cocosmias, astancias,rudebeca, sedum and dog daisies.These are all wonderfully textured withfruit trees dotted through the garden,Bramley, Discovery and pear trees allstand tall, providing some more contextfor the garden.There really is too much to documentat length in this wonderful garden, whichlooks far more established than themodest time the couple have been at theproperty would suggest. Open on theNational Garden Scheme, we’drecommend a visit right away. Look upNova Lodge on www.ngs.org 028-031:Layout 1 9/8/13 12:42 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRETODAY31READERS’ GARDENSThe couple have a passion for roses, and whilethey don’t dominate, examples of DianaRemembered, Fire and Ice and White Feathersare dotted around028-031:Layout 1 9/8/13 12:42 Page 4with perfect working temperatures andconditions you can begin to enjoy thewonder that is autumn colour in thegarden while you work.Plant of the month:SedumThese are fantastic hardy plants as theygive interest all through the season fromthe very first icy shoots appearing in earlyspring, to luscious summer foliage. It alsohas a grand finale of a brilliant late show offlowers ranging from pinks to purples and thebees love it! I have chosen three really goodWe have finally had a summer for the first time in sevenyears and it was a reminder of what a great country thisis when the weather is kind. We had a late start to theseason but things really started growing well once thesunshine arrived.September is one of the great gardening months inmy opinion - the soil is still warm and the rainlevels increase which make it perfectweather for planting. It’s commonknowledge that it’s a good month toplant trees and shrubs but it is also afantastic time to plant hardyherbaceous perennials as they will startdeveloping their root systems and willtherefore be established for thebeginning of next season giving thema head start. If your bed is preparedproperly there shouldn’t be anycompetition from weeds as there iswith spring planting.So after the gardening break during thescorching summer, it’s time to get back outthere and start planting for next seasons show,32 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYGARDENSSedum ’Herbstfreude’Sedum ‘Carl’A greatmonth forgardening!Our gardening expert, Rob Parry of Mill Farm Nursery, MiddleRasen offers readers some excellent tips on planting for theautumn and for next year.032-033:Layout 1 9/8/13 11:47 Page 1GARDENSsedums that will be a worthwhile introductionto the garden border. Sedum ‘Carl’ is a compact upright plantwith fleshy blue green leaves that are slightlysmaller than usual and look particularlystriking as they emerge as neat rosettes in theearly spring.Sedum ‘Mr Goodbud’ is a dwarf uprightform with dark flushed green foliage andbroad heads of pink flowers from August toOctober.Sedum ‘Herbstfreude’ Autumn joy has theusual lovely glaucus leaf coulor and theflowers open from greenish pink buds,progressing through pale pink to becomingdeep pink in autumn.Jobs forthis monthSowing grass seedTree and shrub plantingSplitting herbaceous perennialsPlanting hardy perennialsTake a good look at the borders tosee what action to take in the springSedum ‘Mr Goodbud’.PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/JANELLE LUGGE032-033:Layout 1 9/8/13 11:47 Page 2SEEDPOD SEAT34 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYLINCOLNSHIRE WALKSWOODHALL SPATOWN SIGNVIKING SHIPNKDC set the ball rolling with their “In View” scheme in the mid 1990s and an “Art Trail”has also been established in Louth. Since then numerous sculptures have been installed onthe Water Rail Way, the walking and cycling trail between Lincoln and Boston, and morerecently the Spa Trail between Woodhall Spa and Horncastle has seen special outdoorsculptures commissioned. We have visited the Spa Trail before but now, with new artworks and the completion of anextension to the surfaced trail linking Thornton Lodge and Horncastle, this month providesan ideal opportunity to re-explore. Numerous information boards also flesh out aspects of thetrail’s history. The trail, and this walk, begins in Woodhall but a shorter route is also describedfrom Sandy Lane, Roughton with its dedicated roadside parking area. (GR216647) See alsothe route guide and Factfile. Regular busses operate between the two towns though strongwalkers might do a “there-and-back” with lunch in Horncastle.The trail primarily follows the trackbed of the former Woodhall Junction Railway. Thisbranch line opened in August 1855 and since little of the line remains now betweenWoodhall Junction, by the River Witham, and Woodhall Spa my route starts from RoyalSquare, Woodhall where the track ran just behind the Dambusters Memorial.The rise of Woodhall’s spa followed the discovery by local squire Thomas Hotchkin thatthe town’s water was rich in bromide. These had flooded the abandoned shafts dug duringJohn Parkinson’s calamitous attempt to establish a coal mining industry in the early 1800’s.And the spa’s popularity was one reason for building the branch line railway! Competitionfrom motor traffic and the spa’s decline after WWI, though it did linger on until 1983, ledto the lines closure. Passenger trains ceased in 1954 whilst goods services struggled onuntil 1971. For our “cultural” purposes it is the Sandy Lane to Thornton Lodge section in particularthat contains the commissioned outdoor sculptures that are our main reason for visiting.Several local artists are represented and since much of the trail borders land of theRevesby Estate, once owned by Sir Joseph Banks, there is a natural history background tomany of the works on display. A “Leaping Deer” (in elm) and “Otter” (in oak) are by Nigel Sardeson fromPotterhanworth. The curious, and surprisingly comfortable, “Seed Pod” seats - I’ve triedthem and readers will find them hard to resist too! - were carved by Helena Stylianidesfrom Lincoln. And on the approach to Thornton Lodge are some of Helena’s largeEXPLORINGON FOOTTHE SPA TRAILOnly a few years ago open-air art in Lincolnshire was almostnon-existent, but today it’s all different! We explore the SpaTrail to find out more.Lincolnshire034-035:Layout 1 9/8/13 11:43 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY35LINCOLNSHIRE WALKSSt MARY & St GABRIEL BINBROOKWOODLANDPLANTSSCULPTUREHERONHORNCASTLE MARKET PLACEFACTFILESTART: (Main route) Royal Square, Woodhall SpaSTART: (Short route) Sandy Lane, Roughton (GR217647)MAPS: OS Landranger 122 (Skegness) • Explorer 273DISTANCES : 6¾ or 4¾ miles • 11 or 7.5 kilometresREFRESHMENTS: Several choices in both Woodhall and Horncastlecarved leaves.There are also some large and quite spectacular sculptures ingalvanised steel from the Anwick Forge. Each of these has a botanicaltheme of “Nature Magnified”. The first comprises plants associated withSir Joseph Banks’s discoveries on his voyage to Australia with Captain Cookwhen he named Botany Bay. Another is based on native woodland plantsand another on water plants and birds.Except for the Woodhall golf course section the trail is co-incident withthe Viking Way and in recognition of this Anwick Forge have also created animposing Viking longship. Extending this idea the mile-markers are in theshape of Viking warriors; these were carved by Maxim Griffin of Louth fromblocks of Italian Nabresina limestone.There are other associations with Sir Joseph Banks on this walk too. Theconcluding section is beside the Horncastle canal of which he was one of theleading promoters and there is the tribute garden at the Sir Joseph BanksCentre, Bridge Street, Horncastle. His Horncastle town house is now the TSBbank. Also along the trail several information boards shed light on otheraspects of local history.NOTES -Parking in Horncastle and bussing to Woodhall allows the walk tobe done at a leisurely pace without walking “to the clock”. Timetables areavailable on the Lincs CC website or try Traveline (0870 608 2608) or online.THE ROUTE -Face away from the Dambusters memorial and turn rightalong the road. On reaching the PO (near the old level crossing site) crossover to continue along Broadway. Turn left at Iddesleigh Road and at the endyou will see the Spa Trail beginning on the right - initially along a shortsection of the old railway.After a quarter of a mile, near the Golf Club clubhouse, go left a few yardsand immediately right along a road, which soon becomes a track throughthe golf course. When this eventually peters out, by a green on the left witha seat, keep ahead on a narrowing path to reach Sandy Lane, Roughton.Turn right for 350 yards - you will pass the parking area for those doingthe shorter the walk - then go left on reaching the old railway once more.Simply follow this now for just over three miles to Thornton Lodge.There is then a choice of routes! Either cross the road, go through thesmall carpark and then follow the surfaced trail beyond into Horncastle orcross the canal and take the grassy waymarked Viking Way on the left.Those taking the trail should cross the footbridge on the outskirts ofHorncastle.Finally bear right past the swimming pool, proceed along CoronationWalk and across the by pass. Beyond St. Mary's church is HorncastleMarket Place.by Hugh Marrows034-035:Layout 1 9/8/13 11:43 Page 2036-045:Layout 1 9/8/13 12:51 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY37WEDDINGS - VENUESA few decades ago, there’d have beenvery little need for this wedding guidebecause most weddings followed atraditional pattern passed down throughthe generations. The ceremony would bein the local church and then everyonewould traipse back to the home of thebride’s parents – who would usually bepaying for the whole thing and so wouldgenerally have the final say on whathappened and who attended – forspeeches, curled-up sandwiches andpints of home brew.These days, though, it’salmost impossible to referto a traditional weddingbecause there are somany different stylesand venues to choosefrom. Increasingly,people are gettingmarried later in life andthat means they generallyhave more money to spendon the big day. Those who havepreviously been married may also want todo something completely different thistime around.In addition the actual ceremony maybe less important than the business ofcelebrating the relationship and gettingfamily and friends together, so it could bethat the formalities are simply carried outwith the minimum of fuss and theimportant part being the party thatfollows.The result is that modernweddings are undoubtedlymore personal, reflectingthe tastes and interestsof the happy couple.However this alsomeans they can befar more complexto organise with allmanner of aspectsto decide upon.ThroughoutLincolnshire, though,there are loads of weddingexperts and top quality venues to ensurethat your big day sticks in the memoryfor all the right reasons.The obvious thing to bear in mindwhen you’re planning your wedding isthat the stars of the show are the brideand the groom and what they say goes.While it’s probably fair to say that amodern wedding is often much more funfor the guests to attend – it usually takesplace in a comfortable hotel rather than adraughty church, with live entertainmentthroughout – it’s the happy couple’sspecial day so they shouldn’t have to feellike the supporting act to the band andthe chocolate fountain. That said, if yourplans are particularly esoteric you mayfind the guests leaving a little earlier thanyou may have expected.Similarly the wedding specialists andplanners that most of the top venuesnow offer aren’t there to ignore all yourideas and push you in the direction ofSettingthe sceneOur special guide to planning the perfect wedding beginswith a guide to creating the backdrop39 These days,though, it’s almostimpossible to refer to atraditional weddingbecause there are somany different stylesand venues tochoose fromPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/ERIC LIMON036-045:Layout 1 9/8/13 12:52 Page 2036-045:Layout 1 9/8/13 12:52 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRETODAY39WEDDINGS - VENUESthe well-worn order of proceedingsthey’ve rolled out for every weddingthey’ve ever held there. Their role is tolisten to your suggestions and work outhow they can realise them.Occasionally they may suggest that aconcept you’ve come up with isunworkable with the budget and venueyou’ve decided upon, based on theirvast experience at planning theseevents – though the final decision is, ofcourse, up to you.Of course you can decide to pass onthe offer of the wedding co-ordinatorand get your hands dirty and planevery single aspect of the day. Howeverthat does mean that, as well as theexcitement of storyboarding your bigentrance and devising an evening ofentertainment, you’ll have to deal withplenty of logistical faff that can be asfun and romantic as applying for amortgage. Working out if your choiceof venue is licenced for music into theearly hours or making sure there areenough storage facilities to keep thefood fresh is the kind of job that mostwill happily pass on to their planners,allowing you to concentrate on themore enjoyable aspects of planning theevent.Whatever you decide to do, though,the important thing is to make sureyour guests know what to expect. Yes,you’ll want to offer plenty of surpriseson the day itself but if you’re deviatingIt’s thehappy couple’s specialday so they shouldn’thave to feel like thesupporting act to theband and the chocolatefountain40 Grand venues createthe perfect setting for aspectacular celebrationPHOTO: CYMBELINE036-045:Layout 1 9/8/13 12:52 Page 4Next >