< Previous20 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY GARDENS An oasis of calm and tranquility This stunning garden just outside Lincoln on the road to Newark is a wonderful oasis of calm and tranquillity. Created by Maitreya, it began as a peaceful setting for his mediation centre but as it developed into something quite unique in the region, it has been featured in many a magazine, including our own some years ago. But we felt this garden, with its Japanese influences deserved a revisit. 20-23.qxp_Layout 1 13/09/2019 13:48 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 21 GARDENS P ure Land, as it is aptly named, brings together Oriental charm and British horticulture and is therefore unlikely to be like any other garden readers might’ve come across; in this county at least. In fact, the nearest we know to experience anything remotely similar would be over 3 hours drive away. It’s easy to think that creating such a garden must be down to an experienced gardener and far beyond the scope of most individuals, but Maitreya had no experience of gardening when he started the project some 35 years ago. Using his memories and influences from his homeland of Japan the end results speak for themselves. Maitreya explains: “The meditation centre is the main part of Pure Land, the success of the garden was accidental. I just tried to make a peaceful environment. At first, I didn’t know what to do with the two acres but I eventually had the idea to try to make a Japanese garden. So, I started to create it with my own idea of the natural landscape of Japan. I tried to create a little Japan here and it worked. People are amazed at how beautiful this garden is.” Transforming a flat, derelict plot was completely at odds with the intriguing undulations he was accustomed to. So, the first task was creating more contours so he could eventually make the garden mirror the undulating landscape he remembered whilst growing up in Japan. Once these contours were introduced, he was able to incorporate all the other important elements to make his garden complete; ponds, bridges, winding paths and stone lanterns are just some of the features to enjoy all around the garden. 22 Á 20-23.qxp_Layout 1 13/09/2019 13:48 Page 222 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY GARDENS The garden is a great retreat from the busy roads and manic lives we all seem to lead these days, and one can almost feel the stress ebbing away as you walk around the garden watching the fish and listening to the sound of the birds and other wildlife. Indeed, as we stand watching the wonderfully colourful Koi Carp a movement in some adjoining Lilies reveals a snake that had been lazing in the sun; clearly we’d disturbed its slumber. “The human race has created an imbalanced environment: full of toxins, full of pollution, full of conflict. But the natural world is divine, it’s perfect,” Maitreya explains. “So, what I’ve created here in the spirit of my garden is something harmonious, something natural, something beautiful.” On viewing the garden, you’d be forgiven for thinking that everything growing within has come from foreign shores. In fact, most of the plants and trees are ordinary ones that many of us could buy or perhaps already own in our own gardens. It’s the way that Maitreya has formed the trees into more spectacular shapes that gives it the authentic Japanese look. Japanese cloud formations are just 20-23.qxp_Layout 1 13/09/2019 13:48 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 23 GARDENS one of the ways he does this and with humble conifers would you believe. In doing so, they become instantly recognisable as Oriental archetypes. Another way of clipping and shaping used is what we might call umbrella shaping - at the centre of the garden stands two tall trees that tower over surrounding plants. Again, it’d be easy to assume these are Japanese in origin, but are merely Leylandii, given the exotic touch. It just goes to show how everyday plants in our gardens can be transformed and given a whole new twist (if you’ll excuse the pun). New ways of shaping, training and growing these plants, shrubs and trees totally transforms them and I am inspired to try this myself back home; when my wife’s not watching. That’s the great thing about readers’ gardens, I find, there’s always an idea or two you can take away and try at home. And, let’s face it, we’re only on this planet such a brief time- creating a garden of any size and style is not only enriching our lives but also the lives of others that we choose to share it with. Not to mention that it’s a lasting legacy that’ll probably outlive us in time to come. 20-23.qxp_Layout 1 13/09/2019 13:48 Page 4I t is all too common for people to wait until the spring before they start to think about the garden again. However, you are likely to find that any good landscaper will be booked up during the spring and summer months and so you may not be able to have that project done in time to enjoy the summer. Landscaping can be carried out all year round. There may be some planting that you want to wait until spring to do, but the creation of hard landscaping – such as decking, paths, walls or paving – can be done at any 24 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY © Shutterstock / OleStudio Time for a change time. There are a few things you do need to bear in mind, such as the weather. Snow or rain can have an impact on whether work can be carried out, but if there is a frost or threat of one you can use frost proofing additive to cement or mortar mixes and cover new work with a plastic sheeting, sacking or old blankets at night. Another thing is that daylight hours reduce in the winter and so if you have contractors carrying out work then don’t expect them to be working until late. Due to health and safety they will not be able to work much beyond 4pm due © Shutterstock /Sunnyt studio It is usually around now that the garden becomes the forgotten part of the house. The long summer days have gone for another year, and so the BBQ is back in the shed along with the garden furniture. However now is the time to be thinking of any big changes and projects that you want to do to the garden as Ed Fuller from Fullers Landscaping explains. Time for a change 24-25.qxp_Layout 1 16/09/2019 08:18 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 25 to lack of light. We have, however, used floodlighting in the past to meet deadlines. Another thing to consider is that hard landscaping can cause disruption to existing plants. While most contractors will do everything they can do minimise damage during the winter most plants are dormant and so the risk of any long-term damaged is greatly reduced. I have a fabulous team that will work come rain or shine and they are highly skilled landscapers who can create anything from low maintenance gardens with artificial grass to romantic cottage gardens and state-of-the-art ultra-contemporary gardens. Over the last seventeen years I have built up a family-run business that prides itself on designing and creating gardens that suit each individual client’s budget, regardless of their garden’s size and shape. If you want to make some changes no matter how big or small, I would advise you to consider doing them sooner rather than later, so you have the perfect outdoor space for next summer. Also remember that this is the time of year to be pruning deciduous trees (ones that lose their leaves in winter). This is because it is best to prune them when they are dormant in autumn and winter and due to the lack of leaves you are able to see the natural shape of the tree. We also provide services in all areas of tree care required. 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 Landscaping Call 01522 868717 or 07867 510544 landscapinglincolnshire@gmail.com www.landscapinglincolnshire.com Around the garden •Clear up fallen autumn leaves regularly •Prune Climbing roses and rambling roses once they’ve finished flowering and tie in the stems before autumn winds cause damage •Plant daffodil, tulip and allium bulbs for a fantastic spring display •Now is the ideal time to plant clematis plants •Clear up fallen rose leaves to prevent diseases such as black spot. Don’t compost the leaves •Clear overhanging plants away from pathways •After tidying borders, mulch with bark chips, well rotten manure or leaf mould compost to insulate plant roots for the winter and keep weed growth in check •Harvest squashes and pumpkins before the first frosts, and apples and pears •Plant autumn onion sets for cropping next summer and plant out spring cabbages •Remove the netting from fruit cages to allow birds to catch and eat any pests that are lurking there © Shutterstock / photowind 24-25.qxp_Layout 1 16/09/2019 08:18 Page 2Although the red fox is active all year round, it’s often associated with autumn, no doubt down to its evocative orange fur which can range from auburn, right through to a burnt umber. Then there’s the adorable white underside and its big bushy tail. At around a third of its length, this tail aids with balance much like a cat, but it can also be used as a signal flag to other foxes and to provide warm cover in cold weather. If you’ve seen a fox lately, it’s just as likely to be in a town or other urban area as the countryside. In the latter, they typically live in an underground burrow system called an ‘earth’. The territorial borders of these earths are marked with pungent urine, leaving a recognisable odour. Foxes also sport scent glands on their feet to mark well-used trails, the better to follow them at night. They’re adapted to a nocturnal lifestyle, with keen eyesight and an even keener sense of smell. Readers will likely have heard the vixen’s mating call – a sharp, high-pitched and chilling shriek. It’s not easily forgotten, especially when it wakes you up in a cold sweat in the middle of the night. We’re still a few months off as foxes tend to mate in winter. Though they’re solitary animals by nature, they come together to breed and the male fox – or dog – will support the vixen by bringing her food come spring. When it comes to communication, red foxes have quite a complex language made up of some twenty-eight sounds; complex facial expressions, and scents. They’re also famously omnivores and will eat almost anything. In their natural habitat, that means tucking into small mammals and birds, but just as often eggs, insects and vegetables. Considering that of the 258,000 red foxes in the UK, 33,000 are urban, they’ve also adapted to human food. They’re often found tearing into bin liners, and an open wheelie bin is a veritable buffet. So be sure and deal with those food scraps, clean out containers and keep a lid on your bin. When it comes to hunting, they’ll employ an adorable high pounce to get the better of their prey. This is one of the first things that cubs are taught when they’re learning the basics of how to hunt. Because of the foxes’ resourcefulness and cunning, the animal can be found in folklore and stories the world over, particularly in European and East Asian folklore traditions. In Japan, for example, kitsune are fox-like spirits that boast magical abilities. Here in the UK, the fox can more often be found in children’s stories from scribes such as Beatrix Potter, Roald Dahl and Brian Jacques. Although foxes have never once been classed as vermin by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, they are considered by many to be a nuisance. They have no qualms about helping themselves to chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs that aren’t properly secured and there have been cases of foxes sneaking into houses and savaging a baby. Fox hunting, however, was banned in 2004 despite efforts from a few Tories over the years to reverse the ruling. Sadly, the ban is still being ignored by some who persist on taking their dogs and horses out and engaging in this outdated, old fashion blood sport that has no place in modern Britain. The fox is protected under a series of wildlife laws and breaking them can come with a prison sentence and/or a steep fine. Readers might recall two people, one of whom was a Lincolnshire native, who were sentenced to prison in June for feeding live foxes to hunting dogs. Thankfully, not everyone is so cold-hearted, callous and cruel. In fact, there’s plenty of videos of people feeding and even stroking urban foxes. In native American cultures, the fox is actually seen as the single best guru to guide one down a destined path. So if you ever dream about a fox, try and follow it. Destiny might just be waiting. 26 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY This month Lincolnshire Today takes a closer look at the red fox, a beautiful, crafty little omnivore that’s found as often in urban parks and gardens as folklore. Lincolnshire wildlife © Shutterstock/Mark Bridger 26-27.qxp_Layout 1 13/09/2019 13:55 Page 1© Shutterstock/Mark Bridger 26-27.qxp_Layout 1 13/09/2019 13:55 Page 228 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY FASHION INSPIRED STYLE When it comes to fashion, there’s more than keeping warm this autumn. But having to wear heavier materials and layering up shouldn’t be a hindrance to looking good, but an inspiration. 28-39.qxp_Layout 1 18/09/2019 12:26 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 29 FASHION Numph Numph deliver a sophisticated look to add a touch of class to your wardrobe this autumn. 28-39.qxp_Layout 1 18/09/2019 12:27 Page 2Next >