< Previous20 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYREADERS’ GARDENSreally’ she confesses ‘ but I love to sit inthe garden whenever I need some peaceand quiet or time to think. And, I lovethe wildlife that drops by – over the yearsI’ve seen foxes, partridges, herons,hedgehogs, frogs of course anddragonflies, butterflies etc but there wasonce a pole cat that was screaming toward off our cats. And, most recently wehad some young deer in the field whichwas a real treat. The wide variety of smallbirds that make their home in andaround the garden never ceases to amazeeither and sometimes we see swallowscoming into the house and sitting on theback of the sofa ! On a night I can hear abarn owl calling from the trees and whenwe sit in the hot tub on an evening, oraround the pond, we regularly see batsdarting about above us, catching flies.’The property is south facing andtherefore catches the sun throughout theday and the pond and stream aresurrounded by mature plants and a shrubborder with large specimens: forsythia,viburnums, Photinia, Red Robin andLaurels all providing shelter for the moretender annuals and perrenials in front.Here we see Rudbeckias, Dahilias,Montbretia,fuschias and Arum Lilly’sproviding both texture and colour.Overlooking the pond is a majestic oaktree and, to the side, a weeping ash treewhich as Theresa tells me causes a fewproblems when autumn comes as theleaves often drop in the water meaningdaily netting off of the surface, as theskimmer filter and pump just cant keepup.Further on is a kidney shaped oasis,complete with statue of Homer Simpsonpeeping out from behind a rock rose.‘Plants within this oasis are generallyperennials ‘ explains Theresa ‘ although wedo have a few daisy-like marguerites at thefront of the border, which add a splash ofcolour between spring and summerparticularly. Unfortunately as the garden ison a heavy clay soil and we’re open to theelements, these don’t do too well, but I’mgoing to lift them come winter and see if IA natural decline in garden levelshas been used to circulate ababbling brook to the koi pondMature trees offer dappledshade to the visitor andattracts a variety of wildlife19-21_Layout 1 17/08/2015 13:27 Page 2LINCOLNSHIRETODAY21READERS’ GARDENScan replant them next spring’ To ensure colour into the autumnmonths Theresa tells me she has plantedClerodendrum and while their large heart-shaped leaves provide excellent greenbackdrops the large pink flower headsthat crown these in late summer and lastinto autumn aren’t quite ready yet. There’s also a Lace-cap Hydrangea, whichis particularly useful because they cantolerate partial shade and make a welcomechange to traditional hydrangeas. There isalso and a variety of lilac called, Syringamicrophylla 'Superba' which havingflowered in Spring/early summer, thenproduces another flush in late summer/autumn.Around the east side of the property isanother magnificent al fresco dining areafeaturing a large pergola, around which anumber of climbing plants have beenplanted including: wisteria, jasmine andan evergreen variety of clematis. Thepergola was only erected this year so it’searly days as far as the climbers areconcerned, but the flower bed beneath iswell stocked with blues and pinks fromCeanothus, French lavender, Dahlias,Dianthus, and pansies just to name a few.It’s difficult balancing work and homewith gardening so we’ve used a weedfabric topped with slatechippings to keep weedingdown to a minimum’ sheexplains ‘ I love spendingtime in the garden butabsolutely hate weeding -although my husband’s nottoo fond of shovelling slateeither!’ Happily Theresa’s work haspaid off and the garden looksabsolutely splendid – and, aswe chat over yet anotherPimms, while watching thekoi swim in and out fromunder the decking, it’s all thisreporter can do, to breakaway and meet anothermagazine deadline. The koi pond brings beautyand serenity to the gardenMore humourous lawn art appearsin the form of Scooby DooHomer Simpson hides inthe oasis19-21_Layout 1 17/08/2015 13:27 Page 3Ed Fuller from FullersForestry andLandscaping guidesyou through keeping abright and vibrantgarden all throughautumn 22 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYThe prospect of shorter and colder dayscan make us want to forget the garden, shutthe door and look towards hibernating forthe winter. However, there is one way thatyou can ensure you have a brilliant display ofcolour in your garden throughout theautumn and winter – bulbs!You need to ensure you plant the bulbs atthe right time, so plant spring-flowering andhardy summer-flowering bulbs in theautumn. For tender summer-flowering bulbs,you need to plant in early spring, and plantautumn-flowering bulbs by late summer.If you would like some autumn-floweringbulbs, you should consider Nerines,Sternbergia, Cyclamen Hederifolium, Dahlia,Crocus, Begonia and Gladiolus Mureilae. Forsome winter-flowering bulbs, you can plantCyclamen Coum, Snowdrops and WinterAconite. All of these bulbs will provide a burstof colour and shape during the dull days. When you choose your bulbs, make surethey are large, plump and healthy. You donot want any that are soft or bruised. Before you plant them, you should ensureyou have a suitable location in mind. Mosthardy bulbs prefer sunny sites, and gooddrainage is essential. If your soil has highclay content you can add compost andpeat moss to aid drainage; if it is toosandy, add peat moss or leaf compost.There will be some bulbs that need moreshady spots, so check the care instructionswhen you are buying them. My top tip to make the planting looknatural is to take a handful of bulbs andthrow them. Wherever they land is whereyou should plant them. Once you havethe locations and have prepared the soil,then you need to ensure you plant yourbulbs in groups of at least six, as the morebulbs, the better the display. You need toplace the bulbs in a hole that is at leastdouble or triple the length of the bulb. Forexample, a 5cm high bulb should be putin a hole at least 10 – 15 centimetresdeep. Place the bulb in the hole with theirshoot facing upwards (pointed end up)and then space them at least twice thebulbs width apart. Once they are in theirholes, replace the soil and gently firmdown. Try to avoid walking on the soil asthis can damage the bulbs. You also needto give your bulbs some water straightafter planting them as this will help themto begin to develop roots.BRINGINGOUT THEBEST OFBULBSBRINGINGOUT THEBEST OFBULBSPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/ALEXANDER RATHS22-23_Layout 1 17/08/2015 13:30 Page 1It is also worth planning yourplanting in respect to colour. For example, youcould have softer colours at the front of the bed with themore vibrant ones at the back, or, for a contemporary garden,you could alternate colours along a boarder. Bulbs can also be planted in pots. Make sure there issuitable drainage and the bulbs are planted deep enough. Thisis a great way to create colour and structure for your gardenthat is also moveable. Once your bulbs have blossomed and are fading, you needto deadhead them by cutting the flower off, leaving the stem.If, after they have flowered, you are not sure they are in theright place and you want to change them, you can, but makesure the plant is dormant before digging it up. You will alsoneed to dig them up if they become overcrowded in order toseparate them. If they are overcrowded, the plants will beblooming unevenly and not growing to their usual height. Youwon’t need to do this every year, so just keep an eye on them. Once they are planted, bulbs are easy as they do notrequire a lot of maintenance. Using bulbs is one of thesimplest ways to have a beautiful and prolific flower garden allyear round. SEPTEMBER’SGARDEN DIARYHere are some of the jobs to get the most out thecoming months…* If you have clay soil, now is the best time to improve it with organicmatter and/or horticultural grit* Keep deadheading annuals and perennials to extend theirperformance* Prune any late summer flowering shrubs such as the rock rose* Prune climbing roses and rambling roses once they have finishedflowering (unless they are repeat flowerers)* Raise pots off the ground for the winter by using bricks or ‘pot feet’to prevent waterlogging* Clear pond weeds and net your pond ready for autumn leaf fall* Divide herbaceous perennials* Pick autumn raspberries* Dig up remaining potatoes before slug’s damage them* Install water butts, and keep up with watering of new plantsLINCOLNSHIRETODAY23GARDEN ADVICESpecialised Servicesin Garden DesignLandscaping andTree MaintenanceBacked by a highly-skilledand experienced team,we’ve built our reputationon an ability to provide our clients with professional, tailored gardening and forestry solutionsFREE NO OBLIGATION QUOTATIONSCall 01522 868717 or 07867 510544info@fullersforestry.co.uklwww.fullersforestry.co.ukwww.landscapinglincolnshire.comFULLERSForestry & LandscapingPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/IAN GRAINGERPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/BRZOSTOWSKA22-23_Layout 1 17/08/2015 13:30 Page 224 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYLINCOLNSHIRE WALKSArchaeological evidence shows theTetford area to have been inhabited sincethe Mesolithic period of 6,000BC but theRomans came here too since North Roadlies on the course of their road betweenLincoln and Wainfleet where it linked witha ferry to continue southwards acrossNorfolk as the Peddar’s Way. Nothing of itis now visible but we follow its course onour return to Tetford.In the Domesday Book the village wasrecorded as “Tesford” and today it isunusual in being a “ring” village with anempty central core, the surrounding lanesbeing appropriately named North, East,South and West Roads. Ariel photographyhas revealed traces of occupation in thecentral area, which was perhapsabandoned during the 14th or 15thcentury when plagues were prevalent.Tetford’s St Mary’s church stands almostexactly upon the Greenwich meridian.Consequently we begin our walk bycrossing from the western hemisphere tothe east – and back again on our return.St Mary’s is built of local greenstone anddates chiefly from the 14th century butTETFORD &SOUTH ORMSBYTetford is one of the Wold’s finestwalking centres with routes radiating inall directions. We’re heading east toSouth Ormsby.EXPLORINGLincolnshireON FOOTST LEONARD'SSTH ORMSBYEXPLORINGLincolnshireON FOOTwith a 15th century tower. In thenortheast corner of the churchyard, behindthe chancel, is the grave of two gypsies, anunusual feature on consecrated ground.These two, Tyro Boswell and EdwardHearing are here for a surprising reason,the cause of their deaths being that theywere slain by lightening in 1830. Insidethe church are displayed some pieces of17th century armour, possibly relics fromthe Battle of Winceby in 1643.Across the road the White Hart anancient inn dates, in part, back to the1600’s and reputedly had young AlfredTennyson from nearby Somersby as acustomer. Tennyson was also a member ofthe Tetford Club which met there. Theclubs long history went back to at least the1760’s, since in 1764 it entertained DoctorJohnson of dictionary fame as a guest. Theinn was the Magistrates Court until 1837.In South Ormsby the old school (1858),the inn and the cottages with theirmatching architectural style, and allpainted black and white, confirm SouthOrmsby to be an estate village. The hall,visible from the road beyond its lake, hasRETURNING TO TETFORD24-25_Layout 1 17/08/2015 12:46 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE WALKSbeen the Massingberd family seat since1638. The present building, of 1752, wasdesigned by James Paine and had anupper storey removed in the 1920’s.South Ormsby Park is well wooded;Adrian Massingberd planted a new woodevery year for fifty years between 1949and 1999. Our walk passes throughSquires Spinney.St. Leonard’s church stands on a littlehillside and its south aisle contains awindow of French, or possibly Flemish16th century glass that came, accordingto local tradition, from Notre Dame inParis during the French Revolution. SouthOrmsby can also claim Samuel Wesley asits rector (1691 – 1695) before moving toEpworth where his famous sons John andCharles were born.NOTES.If the return route instructionslook complex don’t worry - it’s clearlysigned and almost a straight line! Youmay encounter cattle in Ormsby Park.THE ROUTEWalk through the churchyard to akissing gate and into a meadow. Veer halfleft before going through any of the gapsin the old tree line to your right. Nexthead towards a stile and footbridge andfrom them aim towards a kissing gate,seemingly in line with the end of a brickwall, then walk on to a stile actuallyagainst the wall end. Bear right alongsidea fence to a stile in the field corner andthen veer left across an arable field to astile in the far hedge. Then maintain yourline across a meadow joining Clay Lane atsome metal gates.Turn right and follow the lane to a farmentrance there going right down a grasstrack and soon bearing sharp left and thenright to meet a surfaced track. Turn lefthere and continue past some woods untilthe track bends left. Now, from a waymarkfollow a side track, part grass, part stony,with a hedge on your right for a fewyards. Then zigzag through the hedge andwalk to a path junction at a kissing gate.Enter Ormsby Park and keep ahead bytrees, through a spinney, across an estateroad and then aim directly for theMassingberd Arms seen ahead at SouthOrmsby. Join the road at a metal gate.Turn right through the village. Go rightagain immediately after the old school topast a white footbridge to reach a kissinggate in the next hedge. Cross a narrowmeadow, then another footbridge andproceed along a field edge to anotherfootbridge at its far end. Keep ahead overone more bridge and a small arable fieldto reach a stile. Now veer (very) slightlyright and beyond a large tree Tetfordchurch will come into view. Once througha gap in the trees ahead walk directlytowards it and back through thechurchyard.by Hugh MarrowsTETFORD VILLAGETETFORD CHURCHTHE ROMAN ROADNEAR TETFORDenter the churchyard and leave via a gatein the lower right-hand corner to re-enterthe park. Aim slightly right and afterpassing through a gap in the tree belt keepforward finally exiting the park onto a road.Keep ahead for a mile to reach Harden’sGap farm.In a further 120 yards take the footpathacross the footbridge on your rightfollowing the field edge to a footpath signat a bridge. Now go left over an arablefield towards another footpath sign seen onthe skyline. Continue across rough grassSQUIRES SPINNEYFACTFILESTART: Tetford church (GR333748)MAPS: OS Landranger 122 (Skegness) • Explorer 273DISTANCE: 6½ miles • 10.5 kilometresREFRESHMENTS: White Hart, Tetford • Massingberd Arms, South Ormsby.LINCOLNSHIRETODAY2524-25_Layout 1 17/08/2015 12:46 Page 2he black tipped tail marks the stoat out fromsimilar species, though it does share some of thesame territorial and opportunistic characteristics ofits genetic relatives. Their slender, serpentine bodiesare suited for creeping up on rats, rabbits and reptilesdouble their size. Lincolnshire caters to the stoat’s varying taste inhabitats and its preference for low country. It favourshedgerows, copses and even farm buildings, but willoften invade a warren and evict the dwellingbunnies. Residents in the heart of Lincoln have evencaught site of stoats in amongst the easy culinarypickings, and setting up digs in pipelines. Night time might be its usual time to hunt andwander, but caravans of stoats are known to nosearound in the day. They’re naturally quizzical animals,keen to explore new nooks and nearby buildings.Observers must be silent though, as any suddennoise will send the stoat scurrying for the nearestshelter. August marks the end of another season ofvigorous mating, where the promiscuous male turnsits nose up at monogamy and flits from female tofemale, leaving mum with the young ‘uns. Thepregnancy lasts for 11 months, among the longestreported in mammals, because of the delayedimplantation. September sees the animals dipping in and out of26 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYLINCOLNSHIRE WILDLIFEhabitats and hidey-holes in search of food andmischief, offering spectators ample photoopportunities. For any after a snap, patience andperception is advised. The stoat is a silent critter, asits keen sense of smell offsets its need forcommunication. Irish mythology paints the stoat as familyorientated animals that hold funereal rituals for theirdead. It’s certainly a nice counterpoint to theirslanderous image of tea leaves with toxic slobber.But cultures the world over have a peculiarfascination with the animal, some believed the stoatwas a grisly vessel for the souls of infants who diedbefore baptism. Russia’s Komi people, on the otherhand, thought of the stoat as symbolic of beautifulnubile women. Most cultures agree that dressed inits winter fur, the stoat is representative of purity.Mary Magdalene has been depicted wearing thewhite pelt as a sign of her reformed character. In Lincolnshire, however, it’s a lot less theological.Recent years have seen stoats become a popular andlively alternative to the humble moggy or themiddling guinea pig. It’s not uncommon to seeroadside signs advertising stoats to motoriststravelling cross county. Even a stoat on a leash isbecoming a more frequent site throughoutLincolnshire. After all, they’re not that much smallerthan a terrier and a lot less yappy. In its white winter coat, the stoat might most resemble the scarf of an expensiveevening ensemble or the trimming on a ceremonial robe, but the short-tailedweasel is about more than just style and extravagance. TLincolnshirewildlife26-27_Layout 1 17/08/2015 12:47 Page 1PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/ARTO HAKOLA26-27_Layout 1 17/08/2015 12:48 Page 2FALL28 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYFASHIONFALLfashionAutumn is upon us, although we don’t wantto think about winter or dark nights just yet.And, as September might still bring uswarm days, the new season aims to easeus towards those cold autumn nights with afabulous selection of light layers – letting usadd, or take away, as the weather dictates. fashionAutumn is upon us, although we don’t wantto think about winter or dark nights just yet.And, as September might still bring uswarm days, the new season aims to easeus towards those cold autumn nights with afabulous selection of light layers – letting usadd, or take away, as the weather dictates. 28-37_Layout 1 17/08/2015 13:44 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY29FASHIONLauRie: The LauRie autumncollection focuses on qualityand comfort and theexquisite soft fabrics hereunderline this.28-37_Layout 1 17/08/2015 13:45 Page 2Next >