< Previouscolour 20 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY T he autumn season has some fantastic colours which Mother Nature herself has designed. If you have a predominantly evergreen garden, you may be missing out on some of the wonders non-evergreen planting brings. Now the seasons are turning, it is the ideal time to begin to see where your borders may lack interest. I have some recommendations for plants that you can either mix into your current borders or dedicate an autumn zone within your garden. By incorporating some autumn colour into your garden, you can tick off another season of interest that you’ve achieved for a beautiful garden all year round. Verbena and Michaelmas daisies are statuesque Verbena Bonariensis and they can flower for months and are often still going strong in October. Matched with the pastel shades of Michaelmas daisies (or Aster) you can create an abundance of frothy delicate flowers well into late autumn. Cornus and Carex are a great example of the balance between evergreen and non-evergreen planting. Evergreen grasses, like Carex, really earn their keep in autumn and winter. Their low growing habit teamed with the colourful stems of Cornus after it has lost its leaves looks stunning in sunny or slightly shady borders. Miscanthus and Echinacea technically both begin to fade during the autumn, but they’re fantastic at holding their structure as they transition into rustic autumnal tones. Paired together they are a delight in an autumn border. Ed Fuller from Fullers Landscaping offers some advice to create colour in gardens through autumn. Autumn 20-21.qxp_Layout 1 20/09/2022 09:37 Page 1• Clear up fallen autumn leaves regularly • Prune Climbing roses and rambling roses once they have 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. Do not 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 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 21 FULLERS Call 01522 868717 or 07867 510544 landscapinglincolnshire@gmail.com www.landscapinglincolnshire.com GARDEN ADVICE For more shadier borders Japanese Anemone and ferns go together for a lush look. The bright flowers of the Anemone will lighten a shady spot, and the softness of the leaves of the fern provides the perfect ground level layer and foil for the flowers above. If bedding plants are more your thing, there is still plenty of options to choose from here too and these could last well into the winter if cared for correctly. Winter pansies provide dependable colour from autumn until mid-spring. Smaller-flowered varieties are more weather resistant and easier to combine with other plants than those with big flowers. All are hardy and colourful; their little faces providing cheer on even the darkest days. Cyclamen persicum produces delightful flowers until the first hard frosts. It will continue blooming into the winter in sheltered gardens or protected positions. Whatever you choose, to have a bit of colour in a garden can brighten any autumn or winter day. © stock.adobe.com/ axz65 Specialised Service in Garden Design and Landscaping 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 Around the garden © stock.adobe.com/ Wirestock © stock.adobe.com/ orestligetka 20-21.qxp_Layout 1 20/09/2022 09:37 Page 222 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY MARKET TOWNS Boston Boston was once a powerhouse of the United Kingdom, and while its days as a major exporter known across the world might be over, it still remains a great location to visit and have fun, with more options available than many other towns. For foodies, Boston has an array of award-winning restaurants, butchers and more – including some restaurants who have received awards from us. Dotted within, outside and in rural locations on the edge of Boston, there’s never too far to go without finding a family pub, restaurant or hotel, and Boston remains a bustling tourist location today. Mountain’s Boston Sausage farm shop remains a multi award-winning destination and is well worth visiting for those who love their tender meats. If entertainment is desired, Boston has Magnificent market towns you covered there as well. Well-known and busy theatres such as the Blackfriars’s Arts Centre and the Savoy Cinema have the drama and musical lovers well in hand. For those more interested in getting out there and exploring around Boston there is RSPB Frampton Marsh Nature Reserve, an area that is one of Europe’s most important locations for freshwater birds. Near to Boston are two wildlife parks: ARK Wildlife Part and Rescue Zoo just eight miles north, and the Lincolnshire Wildlife Park further down the coast toward Skegness. Boston Central Park offers a chance to get away from the hustle and bustle of the town centre, or one can take to their bicycles on the Water Rail Way cycle route, or even the Macmillan Way if you prefer your own two feet. For those who prefer to keep off their feet, the river Belle regularly features private ships offering scenic cruises, or Tattershall lakes water park (a small distance from Boston) offers a chance to be swept off your feet and into the water in a more action- packed manner. Brigg A town with character and a sense of community at its heart, Brigg carries on the market tradition of bringing tradespeople together on the regular, to share quality goods with residents and visitors. As well as weekly markets, the monthly Farmers’ Market is famed for its local produce and handmade crafts. Though the latter is an award-winning event that sees tourists flock from across Lincolnshire and beyond, the usual Thursday and Saturday markets act as a pop-up community hub. It’s the perfect © stock.adobe.com/Randy Runtsch No other county in England can lay claim to quite as many charming market towns as Lincolnshire. There’s more than we can possibly fit into one feature of course, but we’ve highlighted a few of our favourites. No other county in England can lay claim to quite as many charming market towns as Lincolnshire. There’s more than we can possibly fit into one feature of course, but we’ve highlighted a few of our favourites. Magnificent market towns 22-25.qxp_Layout 1 20/09/2022 09:38 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 23 MARKET TOWNS Alford Manor Museum is a must for any visitor, with its plethora of historical tales and objects set in amongst recreated Georgian and Victorian rooms, all inside a 17th century thatch-roofed manor (one of the largest of its kind in the country). A deeper look at the town’s past reveal links to several famous names, including pioneering female preacher Anne Hutchinson, and Captain John Smith of Pocahontas fame. Like the museum building, the medieval church of St Wilfrid’s keeps its period features as a window on Alford in ages past, including a Jacobean pulpit, its 14th century stained glass windows, and a 17th century tomb. The stocks for punishing wrongdoers remain to this day in the market square, and Sir Robert place to meet old friends and new, with plenty of cafes and pubs nearby, and stall holders always open to chat about their wares. With its history preserved at the Heritage Centre, along with the millennia old ‘Brigg Raft’ found on the town’s Island Carr, the warm, independent spirit of Brigg extends well beyond its markets. It shines through in boutiques both on the high street, and tucked away in the courts off the main thoroughfare. Clothing, crafts, books and gifts alike are lovingly displayed in these cosy shops that sometimes feel like stepping through to another world. This town has an unassuming charm that begs to be explored, from the quirky, warren-like town centre to the natural beauty spots dotted along the River Ancholme. The river itself has been the central crossing of Brigg for thousands of years, following the Ancholme Valley way as it leads you ten miles to South Ferriby. Take in the wildlife and picturesque views, then wander back and stay to explore another day, as a variety of hotels await for a well-earned rest. Alford Alford grew from a modest Norman settlement with a population of fifty to gain a market charter in 1283. This put the little town on the map in the Middle Ages and made it the historic market community it is today. The local craft fair, which was established in 1974, recently became part of the history of the town and the whole of Great Britain, as it celebrated Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee with over 3,500 visitors. 24 Á 22-25.qxp_Layout 1 20/09/2022 09:38 Page 224 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY MARKET TOWNS CHARTERED CERTIFIED ACCOUNTANTS To find out how to get your business on the up visit www.dextersharpe.co.uk Offices in Boston, Bourne, Horncastle, Lincoln, Louth, Skegness & Spilsby We pride ourselves on providing a pro-active, friendly and accessible service. Experts in Accounts and Tax Returns Tax Planning and Book-Keeping Audits and Business Advice We’re here to get you in the right direction Keeping business on the up… © stock.adobe.com/roger ashford Alford Town Victorian Railway Station Christopher’s almshouses for sheltering the poor can be seen on West Street, still maintained by the trust fund he established in 1668. It’s fair to say that Alford is devoted to its heritage. Hosting its Harvest Festival on 15th October this year as a celebration of local food, art and crafts, this is a town that purports to have the UK’s shortest high street, delighting in beautiful things made to last. One could say this description also suits Alford down to the ground. Horncastle Horncastle was first granted its market charter in 1231, earning fame for hosting the world’s largest horse fair. Before this event died down and eventually ended in the 1900s, people would travel from all over Europe to buy and ply their trade. The town’s trading spirit remains to this day, with markets held every Thursday and Saturday, and the Farmers’ Market taking place every second Thursday of the month. The town’s ancient history is kept alive in much more than the still-bustling market days. Sections of Roman wall are kept as striking mementos of Horncastle’s origins, maintained thanks to donations from the many generous visitors who opt to ‘sponsor a stone’. The best-preserved of these can be seen proudly featured in the library, while another two can be seen on Manor House Street near the entrance to the Health Centre, and inside Jabberwock 22-25.qxp_Layout 1 20/09/2022 09:38 Page 3Operating from our 46 acre site in Boston, Lincolnshire, we have over 100 years experience providing creosoted timber poles, railway sleepers, gates and fencing. View the range at www.caldersandgrandidge.com Email sales@caldersandgrandidge.com or call our experts on 01205 358866 Calders & Grandidge, 194 London Road, Boston, Lincs PE21 7HJ LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 25 MARKET TOWNS Books to the north-east of the market place. One of the central points of Horncastle’s individual character is St Mary’s, a church quite unlike any other, doubling as a mini museum for town history. The most intriguing of its displays is likely the thirteen scythes on the south chapel wall. Local legend has it that these were a handful of the weapons wielded in the Lincolnshire Rising, as many of the rebels who opposed Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the monastery were mere farmers. Once you’ve explored the historic buildings and ruins, don’t miss your chance to take a stroll along the canal. This beautiful waterway was project-led by the botanist Sir Joseph Banks, who joined Captain James Cook on his first great voyage. You’ll know you’ve had a day’s adventure as you relax with some retail therapy, or sit down to some local food and drink in this town’s wealth of shops, restaurants and pubs. 22-25.qxp_Layout 1 20/09/2022 09:38 Page 426 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY FASHION Firmly in autumn, its time to start wrapping up warm, and perhaps to acquire a new wardrobe too. Firmly in autumn, its time to start wrapping up warm, and perhaps to acquire a new wardrobe too. Autumnal 26-35.qxp_Layout 1 20/09/2022 09:40 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 27 FASHION Masai This long duvet gilet from Masai, perfectly placed over a white shirt, is sure to be your favourite piece for a little warmth this October. 26-35.qxp_Layout 1 20/09/2022 09:40 Page 228 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY FASHION Left: M&Co. A leather skirt is a staple for your closet and can bring both class and edge to your outfit. Have a little fun with a colourful alternative to black like M&Co. does here with this teal pencil skirt. Middle: Marc Cain Just because summer is over, it doesn’t mean you have to abandon your floral dresses. All you need is a chunky cardi or knitted coat as Marc Cain shows here with a luxuriously cosy look. Right: Taifun This stunning maxi dress from Taifun puts a funky pattern on an elegant silhouette, ideal for more formal occasions as the weather turns colder. Drape on a leather jacket for an edgier ensemble. Opposite: Cotton Traders Layering up is a must in autumn, and Cotton Traders does so beautifully with this blouse, sweater vest, and cord jeans combo. 26-35.qxp_Layout 1 20/09/2022 09:40 Page 326-35.qxp_Layout 1 20/09/2022 09:40 Page 4Next >