Lincolnshire Pride September 2024

Welcome

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When Lincolnshire states that it is ‘the breadbasket of the UK’ or ‘the county that feeds the country,’ it’s not a hollow boast. It’s impossible to overstate just how important farming is to the county, for so many reasons. For a start there’s the economic importance of farming to Lincolnshire. The UK Food Valley, a region created in 2021 and comprising Lincolnshire & Rutland, turns over more than £10bn/year. The sector employs 75,000 people in agriculture, food processing and food distribution and prime Lincolnshire farmland is among the most valuable in the country at around £11,000/acre.

Beyond the mere numbers though, farmers make a significant contribution to preserving the look and feel of our county, ensuring UK food security and helping to protect and manage the environment. In short, they have both our gratitude and our profound respect. And so, this month, we’re celebrating farming with a giant feature designed to make you feel proud as the combines begin rolling across the fields.

Elsewhere? We’re still banking on a bit of late-summer/early Autumn sunshine in which case we hope you’ll enjoy a glass of Pimm’s or an ice cream at this year’s Burghley Horse Trials. We’ve a preview of the event in this edition and at the other end of the county, in North Lincolnshire, we’re enjoying superb dining out at San Pietro. Finally, we’ll meet Lincoln sculptor Michael Thacker who is one of 60 sculptors helping to make this month’s seventh Sculpture at Doddington Hall event truly inspiring.

Best wishes for a wonderful month!

Julian Wilkinson CEO, Pride Magazines

This month’s cover by Peter Nixon shows Oliver Townend riding Ballaghmor Class at last year’s Burghley Horse Trials. We’re always looking for great images of the county so please feel free to email us your best photos of Lincolnshire to our editor, Rob Davis, via robin@pridemagazines.co.uk.

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Contents

9 LUXURY HOMES Enjoy the finest selection of quality homes on the market in Lincolnshire.

28 NEWS ‘Good news’ stories from across Lincolnshire including community heroes in Lincoln.

32 HIGH LIFE Supporting rural and agricultural charities at the Lincolnshire Rural Charities Ball.

122

34 EDUCATION A roundup of the best local schools or groups for youngsters.

72 WHAT’S ON Live music and theatre including three simply delicious events for fans of local food.

Highlights

42 THE LINCOLNSHIRE SCULPTOR

From ‘carving out a living’ creating beautiful stonework for the Cathedral to sculpting his own fine art pieces, we meet Lincoln’s Michael Thacker.

47 FARMING IN LINCOLNSHIRE

A comprehensive look at farming across the county as harvest begins.

67 BURGHLEY HORSE TRIALS

The world class sporting fixture and celebration of the countryside returns

Food & Drink

76 DINING OUT Stylish dining for late summer and autumn at North Lincolnshire’s San Pietro.

87 WINE September’s super selection.

Homes & Gardens

88 WELCOME HOME An impressive church conversion in Woodhall Spa.

98 HOMES & INTERIORS Bakeware.

Lifestyle

106 MOTORS Land Rover’s Defender Octa 112 FASHION Style for Burghley.

122 WEDDINGS Leigh & Josh’s big day. SEPTEMBER 2024

Delivered free of charge to high value homes in the county

Pride Magazine is delivered free of charge, via Royal Mail, to high value homes in the county. Our circulation is to homes in the top three council tax bands, which are predominantly worth over £500,000. This guarantees the magazine has an affluent readership commensurate with our content.

The magazine is also sold in leading newsagents and supermarkets and we also deliver the magazine to local businesses including selected hotels, restaurants, coffee shops, doctors, dentists, executive motor dealerships and golf clubs. This helps to ensure we have a continued presence, right across our catchment area.

Our titles also have more social media fans than any other local magazine. In addition we have over 45,000 online visitors viewing our magazines free of charge, online, on their tablet, computer, laptop or mobile phone via our website, our app, and via the Readly and Issuu platforms.

If your business would benefit from being showcased to the wealthiest people in the area, please call our friendly sales team on 01529 469977.

Find Your Perfect Home

The finest selection of luxury homes on the market in Lincolnshire and the surrounding area

336122.

Above: The Manor House on Chapel Lane, Sibsey, currently on the market with Fairweather Estate Agents, £1.25m, call 01205

Skirbeck Hall, Boston

£1,250,000

With a secluded location within an exclusive gated development, Skirbeck Hall enjoys an incredibly private position. This simply stunning Grade Two Listed former rectory has been completely and faithfully restored during a full renovation and has been a much loved family home for almost 20 years. It is absolutely filled with incredible period features to include decorative cornice and arches, panel doors,shutters and a fabulous stone staircase. There are five beautifully appointed reception rooms to include a brand new orangery which is less than a year old and four large double bedrooms, each with en-suite facilities. Skirbeck Hall is offered with no onward chain.

Woodhall Road, Tattershall Thorpe £650,000

Any discussion of our most sought-after local areas would inevitably include a mention of Woodhall Spa, and its equally picturesque outskirts. The house has been subject to a thorough renovation, with underfloor heating to the ground floor, and both a traditional front entrance and boot room to the side. In kitchen the sellers have succeeded in creating a spacious open-plan family space with ample room for cooking and dining or simply relaxing in front of the woodburning stove. All four bedrooms are doubles, with the master bedroom including an en-suite shower room. In addition to the remodelling of the house, the sellers have also invested considerably outside. This includes redesigning the garden and driveway, new perimeter fencing and adding a detached garage/workshop.

Chapel Lane, Sibsey

£1,250,000

Standing in approximately six acres of the most impeccably maintained grounds, The Manor House in Sibsey is widely regarded locally as one of the area’s most beautiful period properties. This Grade Two Listed, four bedroom home dates back to the early 19th century and enjoys a most idyllic position, set back behind a front paddock and surrounded by its own mature gardens, quiet courtyards, a sweeping gravel driveway, and a range of useful outbuildings, to include a fully renovated three bedroom barn conversion, and separate coachhouse with an office, and studio above.

Sibsey Road, Boston

£650,000

Set way back from the road with a large in and out carriage driveway, this spacious property has four reception rooms, and four bedrooms with shower rooms and bathrooms to both the first, and second floors. Offering the best of both worlds, whilst the property dates back to the 1930’s and has many character features such as original stained glass, wooden floorboards, panel doors, and period fireplaces. The property has had some extensive improvement works carried in recent years, to include a brand-new roof, new doors, and windows, and a fabulous glass garden room extension to the rear. The property benefits from a beautiful plot extending to just over an acre comprising extensive lawns with well-stocked cottage style boarders.

Thoroton Road

Thoroton Guide Pride: £1,395,000

Set down a long, private driveway and surrounded by the open countryside, this absolutely stunning one-of-a-kind eco-home offers the discerning buyer the unique opportunity to acquire a newly-constructed residence that successfully combines the character of a traditional red-brick barn, with a contemporary and energy efficient modern residence. The enviable high-end interiors are hugely impressive.

Mount & Minster 32 Eastgate, Lincoln LN2 1QA. Call 01522 716204 or see www.mountandminster.co.uk

In the idyllic village of Harlaxton, just a stone’s throw from Grantham, Jasmine Cottage stands as a testament to timeless elegance and meticulous craftsmanship. Dating back to the 1800s, this Grade II listed home has been thoughtfully extended and tastefully renovated, seamlessly blending historic charm with modern comforts.

Guide Price: £800,000

Pelham James 3 Saddler’s Court, Oakham LE15 7GH. Call 01572 497070 or see www.pelhamjames.co.uk

Jasmine Cottage Harlaxton

LINCOLN

• Executive detached residence • Private gated access

• Sweeping driveway • Five bedrooms

• Three bathrooms • Impressive kitchen/dining room

• Four reception rooms

GUIDE PRICE: £799,000

STRAGGLETHORPE

• Detached Home • Four Reception Rooms

• Two Kitchens • Three Bathrooms & A Wetroom

• Four Double Bedrooms • Versatile Layout

• Three Outbuildings

GUIDE PRICE: £595,000

FOSTON

• Detached Residence • Extended & Modernised

• Stunning Rural Views • Versatile Annexe/Studio

• Landscaped Gardens (0.75 acre)

• Three Reception Rooms • Five Bedrooms

GUIDE PRICE: £750,000 - £800,000

FULBECK

• Cliff Village Residence • Sitting Room & Family Room

• Dining Room • Impressive Kitchen

• Garden Room • Three Bedrooms

• Landscaped Gardens

GUIDE PRICE: £550,000

Lincolnshire

Tucked

Spalding

Kirkby On Bain

Situated within the pretty village of Kirkby On Bain stands this exceptionally well-presented modern family home, occupying a private plot of over two and a half acres (sts). The Beeches built in 2016 to an extremely high standard giving a successful blend of traditional design with modern specification fitments enjoys a wide range of spacious accommodation including four bedrooms, two with en-suite, three reception rooms and a large striking open plan living kitchen. The Beeches

Price: £975,000

Robert Bell & Company 19 Station Road, Woodhall Spa, LN10

www.robert-bell.org

THE OLD METHODIST CHURCH

The Broadway | Woodhall Spa | LN10 6ST

• Superb modern five bedroomed Church in vibrant exclusive village

• Recently completed works creating open plan residential accommodation to over 5,900sqft

GEORGIAN LODGE FENSIDE ROAD | BOSTON | LINCOLNSHIRE | PE21 8JJ

• Large Secluded Detached House in One Third of an Acre

• Superb Modernised House on Private Drive

• High Quality Fitted Kitchen, Timber Floors

• 5 Bedrooms, 5 Bathrooms, 6 Reception Areas, Utility Room, Spire Room, Cinema

CHARTERED SURVEYORS & ESTATE AGENTS FOR SALE FREEHOLD WITH £950,000

• A unique opportunity to acquire this Historic property with original features

KINGERBY VALE

Subject To Contract NO ONWARD CHAIN

Bishop Bridge | Market Rasen | Lincolnshire | LN8 3LY

• 4 Reception Rooms, Kitchen Dining Room, Separate Utility

• 4 Bedrooms, Master with En-Suite and Family Bathroom

• Exposed Brickwork, Fireplace, Clearview Stove, Solid Wood Kitchen

• Private Enclosed Gardens with Extensive Patio Area and Covered Swimming Pool

• Impressive Solid Wood Staircase and Matching Internal Doors

• UPVC Double Glazed Windows, Gas Fired Central Heating

• Detached Garage, 2 Garden Buildings

FOR SALE FREEHOLD WITH VACANT POSSESSION £495,000

Subject To Contract NO ONWARD CHAIN FOR SALE FREEHOLD WITH VACANT POSSESSION

£475,000 Subject To Contract NO ONWARD CHAIN

CHARTERED SURVEYORS • ESTATE AGENTS • COMMERCIAL

OUR SOUTH STREET OFFICE POYNTONS 24-28 SOUTH STREET PREMIER PROPERTY MARKETING & PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Church

Grantham

Church Lane Farmhouse is a stunning Georgian farmhouse which was constructed in 1782, and has been subject to an extensive and thorough restoration. The fantastically private house has been updated in recent years with full cosmetic refurbishment and a number of extensions, including a three-bay garage, conservatory, a snooker room, garden room, office and porch. The substantial home offers extensive accommodation of about 5800 sq ft.

Guide Price: £1,250,000

Savills Olympic House, 995 Doddington

or see www.savills.co.uk

Lane Farmhouse

Spalding

Found in Spalding's premier residential area, Beechfield Gardens has all the convenience of a town centre location whilst enjoying the tranquillity of a rural setting. Occupying a plot of approximately a third of an acre this "state of the art" house has been substantially increased to 3,035 square foot and remodelled by the current owners and boasts 5 double bedrooms (two with en-suite), extensive living accommodation as well as generous mature gardens and patio areas.

Price: £750,000

Beechfield Gardens

The Manor House

Sibsey

Standing in approximately six acres of the most impeccably maintained grounds, The Manor House in Sibsey is widely regarded locally as one of the area's most beautiful period properties. This Grade Two Listed former farmstead dates back to the early 19th century and enjoys a most idyllic position, set back behind a front paddock and surrounded by its own mature gardens, sweeping gravel driveway and an incredible range of outbuildings.

Price: £1,250,000

Fairweather 22 Dolphin Lane, Boston, PE21 6EU. Call 01205 336122 or see www.fairweather-estateagents.co.uk

Sleaford

Scriven House is a superior detached family residence that boasts a wealth of character. The extensive accommodation is ideal for those looking for a private residence with the life of the town on their doorstep, and good transport links across the country via Sleaford and Grantham stations. The accommodation comprises of 3 reception rooms and 5 bedrooms and a double garage. A total floor area of 3817 sq.ft. standing on a large 0.6 acre plot. This is a rarely available and sought after location. EPC R ating D. London Road

Price: £780,000

Newton Fallowell 4 South Gate, Sleaford NG34 7RZ. Call 01529 309209 or see www.newtonfallowell.co.uk

AN EXCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT OF JUST 18 HIGH QUALITY BESPOKE HOMES

SL Developments are pleased to offer this beautiful development located within walking distance of the historic centre of Swineshead.

All 18 plots are bespoke properties, individually designed and finished to the highest standards and turnkey. There are 3 to 5 bedroom homes available.

PHASE 1 completion October 2024 PHASE 2 completion early 2025

GILDING FIELDS SWINESHEAD

Wills with W&P Legal Services

Where there’s a will, you’ve a say

What should you really be looking out for when choosing how to write your Will?

When it comes to writing your Will, the importance of investing in professional services cannot be overstated. There is a variety of choice out there and the estate planning space is overwhelming, but there are several red flags to be looking out for when choosing who to write your Will with. Professional advice may cost a little more in the short term but can end up saving your family tens of thousands in the long run.

Super low fees

Don’t get drawn in by initial low costs. If you’ve found a deal on Groupon or Facebook to have your Will written for £7.99, £29.99 or even £49.99 we’d strongly advise against it. You will likely end up paying thousands after they have used their pressure-selling tactics and won’t leave you alone until you say yes.

No PI insurance

When doing your due diligence, make sure you ask for proof of Professional Indemnity Insurance. This protects business owners if clients claim a service is inadequate. If something goes wrong, the business is not protected and may be unable to pay out if you make a claim against them. It is also important to note that it is a requirement by all regulatory bodies that any professional advisor solicitor has PI insurance.

Hidden costs

Don’t be afraid to ask outright if there is a chance anymore fees or disbursements could appear before agreeing. This way, if any ‘miscalculated’ fees crop up down the line you can dispute them. Good firms will have an easy to understand price list, so make sure you obtain the most recent copy.

Transparency is key: after all, these documents and services are designed to protect you and support you through some of the most important events in your life.

Memberships and professional bodies

Is the estate planner/firm recognised by a professional body? If not, it’s worth being cautious as there’s no evidence to support their knowledge and integrity.

Professional bodies include organisations like the Solicitors Regulation Authority, STEP, CILEX and The Society of Will Writers. Most estate planners proudly display their memberships and certifications on their websites and in their offices, so they shouldn’t be hard to find unless there’s something to hide.

Touting for business

Finally, have you ever been stopped on the

high street or in your local supermarket by someone asking if you’ve made your Will?

For many, this is a bit of a red flag. Businesses have different sales techniques, of course, but this method is pushy and direct for something so personal, meaning you may just be a number on the sales board.

Again, chances are they will lure you in with low costs and high expectations, so it’s best just to steer clear. It's important to do your research and ask as many questions as possible when looking for the right estate planner for you. Your Will is unique to you and should act as a safety net for your family, from appointing legal guardians for your children to managing your estate and leaving gifts. The right estate planner should also be open in helping you mitigate inheritance tax implications.

For a real life case study, you can find Barbara’s Story on our social media pages (@wplegal). In the meantime, for advice or to discuss your estate planning requirements you can contact us on 01778 252301 or email advice@wplegal.co.uk, W&P Legal specialises in Wills, Trusts, Lasting Powers of Attorney and Probate with honesty, empathy and professionalism. Their team of experts are dedicated to offering reliable and trustworthy legal advice with delivering peace of mind at the heart of the business.

Local News

Lincolnshire’s Ros takes gold in Paris

Louth’s Ros Canter, Laura Collett and Tom McEwen defended Great Britain’s eventing team title from Tokyo giving Team GB their first gold medal of Paris

Community heroes celebrated

The hard work of local volunteers from across the county has been highlighted at Lincolnshire County Council’s annual Good Citizens Awards

Four winners have been named in Lincolnshire County Council’s Good Citizens Awards. The presentation of their awards was made recently by Council chairman Cllr Eddie Strengiel.

n The Individual Award went to John Mould, who has complex PTSD and founded the Boston Men’s shed group in 2021 to provide support for local men struggling with a variety of personal issues. John later embarked on a fundraising project to secure the service’s future.

n Young Citizen Alfie Coombes from Branston (pictured) overcame severe pain and disability to raise money for a much-used community facility, Lincoln’s Community Grocery, run by the Message Trust.

n The Community Group award went to Buddies Dementia Café, Nettleham, whose bi-monthly meetings support their 80 members.

n Michael and Morag Watkins won the couple/pair category for their work with the Salvation Army and involvement in the Church’s Cameo (Come and Meet Each Other) Club.

Congratulations to Lincolnshire’s Ros Canter (pictured third from left), the Hallington-based eventing rider who secured Team GB’s first gold metal in the 2024 Paris Olympics alongside teammates Laura Collett and Tom McEwen.

Ros was a Team and Individual World Champion in 2018, plus an Individual European Champion in 2023. She now has three European team gold medals in her haul, her GB gold and she won 2023’s Badminton.

“The whole support team has just been phenomenal. The support I had from everybody has been so great. I know we can hold our heads high and be very proud of each other.”

Team GB comprises 327 athletes including 169 returning Olympians and 74 Olympic medallists.

See www.roscantereventing.com.

Happy to support Freya

A new brand ambassador for A Poucher & Sons’ Lincolnshire-based Emerald Green Food brand

Emerald Green Feeds, grown on family run farm by A Poucher & Sons, were excited recently to welcome Freya Alderson to the team as their newest ambassador for the brand.

The family business has always admired and supported the dedication and enthusiasm that young ‘grass roots’ riders bring to equine sport.

Freya, who is 16 years old, lives locally near Caistor and competes in British Dressage as part of the North and East Youth squad.

Congratulations go to her for recently representing England and North & East at the Home Nationals in Wales.

Freya feeds a forage-based fibre diet to horses Precious, Brando and Poppy. She’s enjoyed visiting the farm already, during harvest, to see her horses’ feed being made. Freya is pictured ready for her Prom Night with pony Precious.

Photo: Danielle Burns.

The sweet smell of success

British fragrance makers Moulton Brown open new boutique at Spalding’s Springfields Outlet

Springfields Outlet, the leading shopping and leisure destination in the East of England, have welcomed Molton Brown, the prestigious fragrance brand which has now opened adjacent to Dune London and Joules.

The store will boast a vast range of premium beauty, bath and body products at unmissable outlet prices with savings of up to 30%.

Send your press releases & business news to us via editor@pridemagazines.co.uk.

From Lincoln to Peru

22 Lincoln Minster School pupils embark on an exciting 12-day expedition to Peru’s Mount Chachani

22 pupils from Lincoln Minster School are currently embarking on an exciting 12-day expedition to Peru where they will attempt to break a second world record. Partnering with Adventure Lifesigns, a leading UK-based expedition company known for its successful global ventures, the school aims to explore Peruvian culture and achieve a world record.

The school has also received support from Lincoln City FC, the Peru embassy in London and even Buckingham Palace, as they prepare for their journey. The team plans to visit local communities and engage in cultural exchanges, including football matches against local mixed-gender teams.

The highlight of the trip will be an ambitious climb to the summit of Mount Chachani, where the group aims to set a new world record by playing the highest football match at an altitude of 6,000 meters. The Peru expedition promises to be a challenging yet rewarding experience, blending cultural immersion with athletic achievement. The school community eagerly anticipates the team's success in this unique endeavour.

Find out more about Lincoln Minster School later in this edition.

And Finally... Elvis has left the airplane. South Kesteven District Councillor Elvis Stooke recently faced his fears with a 10,000ft tandem skydive to raise funds for a men’s mental health charity. Elvis, who represents Belmont Ward in Grantham, wanted to raise £5,000 for the Bhive group, and conducted the skydive as Pride went to press. Hopefully the experience didn’t leave him feeling all shook up.

High Life

Lincolnshire Rural Charities Ball

A trio of important local charities were celebrated last month at the Lincolnshire Showground’s Epic Centre, including the Lincolnshire Rural Support Network which celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2024

Rob Davis.

Images:

The Lincolnshire Rural Charities Summer Ball at the Lincolnshire Showground’s Epic Centre last month helped to celebrate the work of three charities which actively support rural communities throughout Lincolnshire. The Lincolnshire Rural Support Network helps over 216 rural families a year with practical advice, emotional support, and health screening services.

The Lincolnshire Rural & Agricultural Chaplaincy has the specific purpose of securing the longterm future of Agricultural Chaplains in Lincolnshire with long-serving Lead Chaplain Alan, whilst the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society Educational Trust works to promote food and farming. Guests enjoyed a drinks reception and dining on Lincolnshire produce before enjoying fantastic live music from Lincolnshire based The Rumble Band and DJ Blackgrass.

Lincolnshire SCHOOLS

Here, we profile some of the best independent schools and colleges, across Lincolnshire offering the very best education the region has to offer...

School

Image: St Hugh’s

St Hugh’s School

Developing your Child's Individuality

Based in the idyllic village of Woodhall Spa, we are a leading independent Nursery, day and boarding Preparatory School for boys and girls aged 2-13.

Set in our own beautiful grounds, we have exceptional facilities. The enviable learning environment at St Hugh’s provides a space where classrooms and playing fields provide equal opportunities for all – be it in a lesson, a match, a concert or a play, there are opportunities for children to develop, encouraged by caring professionals who are proud to be part of the school and who love what they do. From day one, even our very youngest children benefit from specialist teaching in French, Music and PE, as well as swimming in our heated indoor pool.

Underpinning what we do is the care and support needed for every pupil to thrive throughout their education and wherever their aspirations take them. As part of their learning journey, we prioritise wellbeing, happiness and exciting learning.

In our last ISI inspection we achieved ‘excellent’ in all areas and our Nursery was deemed ‘outstanding’. We are proud to have been shortlisted for Small Independent School of the Year in 2024 & 2022, Independent Prep School of the Year 2021, and Independent School of the Year for Student Wellbeing in 2022 & 2023. Earlier this year we won the School category for the Lindum Lincolnshire & LTA Tennis Awards for the second year running.

We welcome prospective families to visit us to see the opportunities on offer, please call 01526 352169 or email office@st­hughs.lincs.sch.uk or see www.st­hughs.lincs.sch.uk.

Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate (QE)

Boarding and day school for girls and boys

Set in 220 acres of beautiful countryside between Harrogate and York, QE is an award-winning day and boarding school (BSA Innovation, 2022) that welcomes girls and boys aged from 3 months to 19 years and boarders from Year 3.

It is known nationally and globally for its consistently high-ranking academic performance with QE College placing 2nd nationally for A Levels and 18th for all-round Academic Performance. The QE Faculty school which offers modern qualifications climbed several places to rank 3rd in The North for A Level Performance and 7th in The North for overall performance.

QE is a through school with many students beginning their QE journey in Chapter House Prep or King's Magna Middle School. The whole Collegiate places its emphasis on growing students into resilient, caring, compassionate and confident adults with an ethos of “To be the best that I can with the gifts that I have” underpinning everything.

QE takes pride in offering over 100 clubs onsite, making full use of its exceptional facilities with over 30 acres of elite grass and 3G artificial pitches, a 25m swimming pool and a 314-seat professional theatre.

QE's excellent pastoral team run a programme of activities and support that ensures student mental health is a priority. They are available to students at any time of day or night, both in and out of the dedicated pastoral area. QE was inspected by ISI in 2023 who said that "Pupils feel that their opinions matter and that leaders are alert to their welfare needs, which promotes their self-esteem."

Visit www.qe.org to find out more or email admissions@qe.org to book a private tour.

Education

Highfields School & Day Nursery

A

thriving and nurturing preparatory school

Highfields Independent School & Day Nursery provides a supportive environment, with well embedded values and traditions, providing pupils with a wealth of learning experiences to enable their potential and discover new talents. Offering an extended day, with wraparound care from 7.30am until 6.00pm, Highfields offers flexibility and peace of mind for working parents who want the finest education and best academic outcomes for their children.

As a gateway to the most prestigious Grammar and Independent Senior Schools, Highfields prepares children for the 11+, Common Entrance Exams and scholarships with an excellent success rate. Personal growth and wellbeing are valued as highly as academic success, with an emphasis on the holistic development of the individual. The Highfields team have a deep-rooted belief that every child is unique, and it is their job to unlock the child’s potential with a wealth of contextualised learning experiences, creating meaningful connections and skills that will stay with them for life.

Headteacher, Sarah Lyons, says, “We develop ‘Highfeldians’ who are prepared for life beyond school. Flexible, independent thinkers and learners with a love of adventure and a strong sense of identity. Highfields pupils are spirited, resourceful and self-motivated with respect for both themselves and others.”

Highfields latest ISI inspection was a huge success, with the ISI praising their outcomes and culture of mutual respect and kindness.

To discover more, why not attend the Highfields Open Morning on 12th October 10am – 12noon. Contact Admissions Manager, Anna Eason on 01636 704103 or email admissions@highfieldsschool.co.uk.

Lincoln Minster Happy, achieving children

Lincoln Minster School, an independent school for girls and boys aged 4-18, is located in the historic heart of the city, a stone’s throw from the beautiful Lincoln Cathedral. With its mission to bring out the best in everyone, Lincoln Minster School offers a genuinely broad education, with a focus on an inspiring co-curricular programme that lets each child explore their strengths and passions. Younger children build skills and confidence through clubs such as Dance, Tennis or Animation, while older pupils enjoy being challenged in Sailing, Equestrian and Robotics. A vibrant scholarship programme provides even more opportunities for development for students with particular talent in academia, art, drama, music and sport.

The campus, consisting of excellent purpose-built teaching and learning facilities, is a happy, productive environment. The school offers an environment where children can thrive without losing their individuality, and where success in all its forms is recognised and celebrated. The Head, Jon Tyler, is refreshingly clear about his purpose: supporting every pupil to achieve happiness and success. The school has consistently attracted praise for the strength of its offering: the Prep School was listed in the UK top 40 (The Times 2023); and the school has twice been named a finalist in the Independent School of the Year Awards for student wellbeing (2022 and 2023). Lincoln Minster also ranks nationally in the top 70 for sports provision (School Sport 2022).

The school's next Preparatory and Senior School Open Mornings will take place on October 3rd and 4th 2024, 9:00 ­ 12:00 (respectively). Book your place via the school's website at www.lincolnminsterschool.co.uk, or call 01522 551300.

Education

New Youth Theatre

Performing arts classes for young talent

New Youth Theatre offers a great theatre experience for all kinds of children and young people. Performing arts classes are divided to accommodate different overlapping age ranges; Tiny Tots (3-5yrs), Juniors (5-12 yrs), and Seniors ( 11-18 yrs).

Here your child will do much more than learn lines, dance steps and song lyrics; they’ll learn about teamwork and confidence building. They’ll discover that side of themselves which encourages others as they progress through the New Youth Theatre experience. NYT provide 3 shows a year for the children to be a part of a classic production specially written and scored for children such as The Wizard of Oz, Annie, Footloose, Fame or Peter Pan to name just a few. NYT provides a wonderful outlet for emerging talent.

As a theatre group, New Youth Theatre is always looking for its next star. Maybe you’ve held a secret wish to perform on stage. Perhaps you’ve told yourself that this sort of thing is not within your abilities. Well, you needn’t worry. New Youth Theatre is famous for its friendly welcome. It won’t be long before you too feel an important part of its vibrant life.

And you never know where you might go from here. Most West End stars began in such groups; after all, we all have to start somewhere. The main thing is to get involved and soon you’ll be enjoying every moment as you tread the boards; after all; who knows where it may lead in the years to come? Book online to join in the fun!

Grantham New Youth Theatre www.newyouththeatre.co.uk/grantham Lincoln New Youth Theatre or www.newyouththeatre.co.uk/lincoln

Fine Art Sculpture

Talent Set in Stone

Lincoln-based fine art sculptor Michael Thacker’s talent is already set in stone, and this month he’ll join 60 other nationally and internationally-renowned sculptors exhibiting over 300 pieces of work in the gardens and gallery at Doddington Hall for the estate’s seventh biennial sculpture event

Approaching completion in Michael Thacker’s studio is a smooth, round loop of rose aurora marble. The title of the piece is Circuit and it’s one of three pieces that Michael will exhibit at this season’s Sculpture at Doddington Hall event which runs until 8th September.

Stone is not an easy medium in which to work. Stating the obvious, it’s heavy and requires more than a bit of muscle to move around the studio and manipulate. To sculpt it into a desired shape requires diamond cutting discs, chisels and abrasive pads.

Happily though, the challenge of working with the material is matched by its appeal, and the organic shapes and curvaceous, cool surfaces were what inspired Michael to pursue sculpting in stone in preference to wood, metal or clay.

“I was raised in Leeds and Doncaster, pursuing a degree in Fine Art Sculpture in Loughborough before studying Stonemasonry at York College. Upon graduation I had already secured a studio in Lincoln but joined the Cathedral’s Works department in 2001.”

Michael’s role alongside his fellow stonemasons, stained glass conservationists, leadwork specialists and heritage joiners was to repair, and where necessary fabricate stonework, for the 950-year old Grade I listed scheduled ancient monument.

Among his hundred or so projects during that time was the creation of a one metre-tall dragon to replace a weathered grotesque on one of the buttresses in the 24 metre high nave.

Words and lead image: Rob Davis.

Fine Art Sculpture

Another feature of many of Michael’s sculptures is the use of gold and platinum leaf, which can be used to catch the light, giving an extra dimension to the highlights and shadows of a piece

During his time working for the Cathedral much of Michael’s work was geometric, e.g.: finials, buttresses and window tracery. However he also kept a private studio on the city’s High Street where he accepted as many commissions as time allowed.

In 2015, Michael was able to move to a larger studio off Lincoln’s Newark Road, where he now pursues his own fine art studio work and commissions full time.

Sitting outside Michael’s studio is somewhere in the region of 25 tonnes of stone, from Carrera, Rose Aurora and Nero Portoro marble to Ruivina Marble. The sculptor usually travels to Italy’s Pietrasanta – north of Tuscany and around 10 miles from the village of Carrara Avensa – a couple of times a year to source his stone directly from the area’s quarries.

The quarry owners are always delighted to meet the sculptors, who are passionate about the material and are also a good market for what are considered offcuts (50kg blocks, for instance), those which aren’t as useful to the architectural market of floor or wall tiles or kitchen work surfaces which favours large, uninterrupted slabs.

Michael’s supply of stone allows him to work on whatever size piece he has in mind, and in whatever colour and material. He creates anywhere from 25-50 pieces a year, spending up to three months on each one. His work ranges in size and weight from 30cm and around 7kg to pieces up to 2.5 metres in height, weighing in at a tonne and a half.

Whilst some sculptors work with a maquette, creating the final piece from a smaller design, Michael works directly with the stone, sometimes freehand or on other occasions, following a quick sketch on paper.

Large pieces of stone are brought inside the studio with a pallet truck then lifted onto Michael’s bench with a hefty chain hoist. With the stone ready to work, the rough size of the block is achieved with plugs and feathers which break the stone down to size as necessary.

Next Michael uses an angle grinder with a diamond cutting wheel to gradually achieve the organic forms and curves that make up his work. Eventually smaller grinders are used to finesse the shape before the sculptor uses pneumatic chisels and eventually hand chisels which he says offer greater control and an enhanced ability to really feel the material as he works.

What emerges from a square block are smooth forms resembling seedpods, shells, fossils and buds. Michael uses abrasives down to 6,000 grit in fineness to achieve a smooth, glossy surface which he sometimes juxtaposes with rougher, more organic textures.

Another feature of many of Michael’s sculptures is the use of gold and platinum leaf, which contrast beautifully against darker coloured marble and can be used to catch the light, giving an extra dimension to the highlights and shadows of a piece. The leaf is applied onto a base adhesive which, when tacky, allows the genuine gold gossamer layer to be burnished onto the stone.

Two of the three pieces Michael will be contributing to Doddington’s sculpture exhibition will feature gold leaf and will be installed indoors. Circuit, meanwhile, will be installed on a plinth in the gardens and is the largest of Michael’s three pieces at 57cm tall plus base.

Michael’s work ranges in price from around £500 to £20,000 depending on size, gold embellishment, its overall complexity and whether a piece is studio work or a private commission. As well as exhibiting at Doddington Hall, Michael’s work is offered in Gallery Attaché, London; in Pimlico and the Cotswolds at Haynes Fine Art, and he has completed commissions for Quintessa of Middlesex and St Ives’ Porthminster Gallery, as well as those for private houses, luxury hotels, cruise ships and private yachts. The sculptor’s work is also favoured by interior designers such as Quintessa Art and by British Interior Designer of the Year, Katherine Pooley, but the best place to view examples of Michael’s work is on his own website.

“It’s interesting, and fun and inspiring,” he says. “Not the easiest material to work with but the most enjoyable in my opinion. I really love the resulting pieces and I’m always inspired by the ability to use stone to explore how curves can interact. My personal favourites are the pieces that I’ve created from Portoro marble, as the veins really catch the light and complement any gold leaf work. But every example is rewarding, and I’ve always an idea or two for my next piece.”

Michael Thacker is a fine art sculptor based in Lincoln. For more information on his studio pieces and commissions, call 07786 574428, see www.michaelthacker.co.uk or view Michael’s Instagram profile, @michaelthacker_sculptor.

Sculpture at Doddington runs until Sunday 8th September at Doddington Hall, see www.doddingtonhall.com/sculpture

Echo.

Cast. Moment.

Cryptic.

FARMING in Lincolnshire

As the county that feeds the country, Lincolnshire is renowned for its cereals, vegetable production, livestock and horticulture. This month we celebrate farming in the county!

Image: Richard Bailey combining spring barley at Kirkby la Thorpe near Sleaford in late July. His Claas Lexion 8800 has about 700hp, utilises a 40ft Convio Flex header and has a grain tank capacity of over 15,000 litres. By day, Richard is Head of Design at his familyowned business, Sleaford’s Bailey Trailers, but he enjoys combining and has helped to bring in the harvest since the age of 16!

Cereals in Lincolnshire

By the time you read this, you’ll be able to look out of the window and see combines rumbling steadily across the fields, gobbling up massive quantities of wheat, barley and oilseed rape. In 1850, harvesting an acre of wheat took many labourers 23 hours. With the advent of early combines that dropped to about eight hours and a single person. The same task today takes 20-30 minutes, and the driver enjoys air conditioning and listens to Smooth Radio in their cab.

Yields are better too, thanks to agronomists, and modern combines are both comfortable and sophisticated, using cameras to report yields in real time. Software like John Deere’s HarvestLab automatically measures moisture, protein and starch even before the crop has reached a combine’s 16,000 litre (on average) grain tank. Scotland’s Patrick Bell first invented a ‘reaping machine’ in 1828, then a couple of American firms refined the design in the 1850s. Finally, the steam engine and threshing machine maker Clayton & Shuttleworth, based at Stamp End Works in Lincoln, created the first European-built combine in 1931 with a three-metre wide ‘header.’

The first combine harvester as we know them was created by Claas in 1937. Fancy getting behind the wheel of a state-of-the-art combine?

A new John Deere X9 1000 or Claas Lexion 800 will cost between £750,000 to £1m depending on configuration.

Record breaking yields

Farming 1,500 acres in the Lincolnshire Wolds, Tim Lamyman is a world champion cereals grower, achieving yields of 16.21t/ha for his Tardis winter barley and 18t/ha of Champion variety wheat during his 2022 harvest... that’s over twice the average yield, and still today Tim holds the world record for cereals yields.

Sugar Beet Production

Knobbly, pale and shaped a bit like an oversized parsnip, sugar beet is responsible for satiating Britain’s sweet tooth. We consume 1.7m tonnes of sugar each year of which 25% is from imported sugar cane. Another 25% of our sugar is from imported sugar beet, and 50% is made from beet grown in the UK with Lincolnshire satisfying 17% of that demand. Sugar beet is drilled in March/April, harvested (right) September­March.

British Sugar is the UK’s only sugar beet crop processor, and turns 8m tonnes of sugar beet into 1.2m tonnes of processed sugar, relying on 2,300 growers and its factories including Wissington near Kings Lynn and Newark’s factory. The latter broke records in 2023/24 by working for 228 days, and British Sugar overall supports 9,500 jobs.

Cane and beet sugar are identical in chemical composition (99.95% sucrose) but the process of refining each is totally different. Sugar beet is washed, sliced into thin stripes (cossettes), then mixed with hot water to extract the syrup before being mixed with lime to remove impurities.

Unfavourable weather in spring and summer means yields across Britain are likely to fall shorter this year, but Lincolnshire’s farmers will still produce 11% of the country’s wheat.

Cereals in Lincolnshire

The total farmed area of Lincolnshire is currently just under 490,000 hectares; about 5.4% of all agricultural land nationally. 272,520ha comprises cereal crops. Around 253,856 hectares of Lincolnshire land is used for farming cereals, of which 178,337 (61%) is wheat; 19,878 (13%) is winter barley; 43,815 (17%) is spring barley; 7,245 (6%) is oats and the rest is made up of other cereals. Most cereals are harvested from the middle of July and harvest runs into August, but the weather can have a huge impact on this. A typical cycle for an arable farmer starts in September when the ground is worked and the crop is drilled. In spring time the crops start to grow rapidly, and fertiliser is applied to give the crops the nutrition they need. Harvest then starts in July where the crops are brought into the grain store.

Grain Marketing

Farmers typically use grain merchants to achieve the best prices for their crops. Founded in 2005, headquartered at Witham St Hughs near Lincoln, and with 1,100 employees, Frontier Agriculture turns over £1.5bn/annum and sells 20% of the British grain market on behalf of farmers, about 5.5m tonnes/year.

Openfield is based at Colsterworth and trades around 17% of the UK’s grain market with a turnover of about £806m. Uniquely, Openfield is a cooperative, owned by 4,000 farmers, who work together to supply British grain to some of the biggest and most well-known foods brands in the UK to make bread, cereals, drinks and spreads and animal feeds.

The syrup is filtered, heated and seeded with sugar crystals which grow and are then washed, dried and cooled before being packaged as caster, icing, brown or liquid sugar products. The by­products of the process are sugar beet pulp – which is used as animal feed – and two soil conditioners, Topsoil and LimeX, which help to keep land fertile.

It’s worth knowing that only Silver Spoon is made from beet, whilst Tate & Lyle is made from cane. By choosing Silver Spoon, you’re cutting down food imports and supporting local farmers!

Growing in Lincolnshire

For over 400 years, Lincolnshire has boasted some of the best farmland in the country, so it’s little surprise that the county is always known as ‘Britain’s veg basket’ or as ‘the county that feeds the country,’ and so on. When Charles I tasked Cornelius Vermuyden to drain the Fens, he began to uncover what now constitutes an area of 1,500 square miles in Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk which makes up 4% of Lincolnshire’s farmed area and is responsible for 7% of England’s total agricultural production.

Fenland is defined as being soils which gain their moisture from rock and soil with dissolved minerals that create favourable growing conditions, as distinct from bogs which receive their water from rainfall which is more acidic and less able to support such diverse vegetation.

Growing Vegetables in Lincolnshire

Land in England and Wales is given one of seven classifications based on climate, gradient, soil depth, moisture and stoniness, from Grade I to Grade V (there are a couple of ‘sub-grades’). Because the Fens are mostly comprised of Grade I and Grade II soils (not just silt but peaty and calcareous in geology), they’re highly valued for growing crops, in particular brassicas and potatoes. That’s reflected in that fact that Lincolnshire (and especially the Lincolnshire Fens) are responsible for producing 20% of England’s fresh vegetables, and 20% of its potatoes, crops worth about £1.23bn/year.

The Big Three

Lincolnshire vegetable-growing operations are dominated by ‘the big three;’ Lincolnshire Field Produce was formed in 1997 by Robin Hancox, Aubrey Day and Martin Tate and it currently farms about 16,000 acres (6,500ha). Based in Whaplode but farming across South Lincolnshire, the company employs 140 people and produces brassicas and potatoes as well as cereals and sugar beet.

Above: Branston near Lincoln from above. The site handles 350,000 tonnes of potatoes each year... roughly 20 trillion individual potatoes, supplied by over 100 growers. Image by Will Selby Project.

TH Clements is based in Benington and are now third generation farmers who have been growing fresh vegetables since 1940, working with major retailers since the 1980s. T H Clements produces around 200 million packs of vegetables each year, farming over 12,500 acres of crops like purple sprouting broccoli, leeks, cabbages and cauliflowers. Supplying supermarkets in the UK and Europe, if there’s veg on your plate, chances are it has been grown by Clements.

Also along the A52 at Wrangle, between Boston and Skegness is Staples, which grows broccoli, cauliflowers, kale, Savoy cabbage, red and white cabbage, spring greens and Brussels. Staples’ owners, George & Vernon Read, farm 10,000 acres and employs 600 members of staff.

Growing Potatoes

Lincolnshire has long been synonymous with tates, and Branston Ltd handles over 350,000 tonnes of potatoes each year... roughly 20 trillion individual potatoes, supplied by over 100 growers. Virtually all of Tesco’s potatoes (and the retailer has over 4,000 stores) are supplied (fresh, prepared or mashed) by Branston

In total in the UK, we grow 5.31m metric tonnes of potatoes; about 14,337,000,000 assuming a yield of 20t/ha yield. Lincolnshire grows 13% of the UK’s potatoes, using 14,000ha (34,500 acres) land. Across the UK, 108,000ha (266,873 acres) is used to grow potatoes each year.

Image: Branston

Say Yes Peas

Crops aren’t the only things that grow rather well in Lincolnshire. Businesses tend to grow quite well, too. Fen Peas, a producer organisation – or cooperative as most would know it – began life in 1969 when four farmers got together. At the time they grew just 600 acres of peas.

“We’re half-way through the harvest now, yields are good and quality is holding up,” says Stephen Francis. “We produce 10,000 tonnes which is 10% of Britain’s consumption. Planting 14 varieties means we can stagger the crop through the year and harvesting lasts from mid-June to August, slightly delayed this year because of the weather.”

The company uses Ploeger 540-EPD harvesters which work in a similar way to a cereals combine; combing the crop, separating the pod and threshing it to free the peas. Timing is very much of the essence, and the time from field to factory is never more than 150 minutes!

A year in the life of a vegetable farm

Later in this edition we’ll meet Mark Nundy of Windy Ridge Veg near Boston, who produces cauliflower, broccoli, cabbages, sprouts and potatoes from his 890 acre (360ha) farm. Mark has recently appeared in a four-part video on a year in the life of a Lincolnshire veg grower produced by tractor manufacturer Valtra. You can see the first of his videos on Valtra’s social media channels, or at www.valtra.co.uk.

Supporting farmers

n Househam Sprayers, based near Woodhall Spa, employs 47 people and produces its own range of sprayers, designed and manufactured in­house with a wealth of bespoke options. Its Spirit (3,000 litre), Harrier and Air­Ride (6,000 litre) models are delivered worldwide. The company was established in 1970.

n Cope Seeds of Sleaford specialises in regenerative agriculture. The family­owned company was established in 2003 and is run by Managing Director Gemma Clarke, providing conventional and organic seeds, grains and SFI (e.g.: wildflower) crops.

n Bailey Trailers was established in 1982 by Tom Bailey and moved to its 70,000sq ft site in Sleaford in 2010. It’s in the third generation of the family now and has a range of 17 different trailers with multiple variations, of which it produced 943 in 2023.

Tractors & Machinery

n Last year in the UK, 11,816 tractors (full­size, over 50hp) were purchased, making them the most commonly purchased items of large farm equipment in the country.

n For the 2022/2023 season, UK farmers purchased 200 combines, 700 round balers and 255 square balers.

n ATVs and Utility vehicles were the next most common pieces of kit after tractors, selling 7,800 and 7,000 respectively. Telehandlers were common too, conducting heavy lifting tasks and allowing grain or sugar beet to be pushed into piles or loaded onto lorries with buckets at the front. They were the next most common pieces of kit with 4,230 sold. 430 ploughs, 620 power harrows, 2,000 tedders/hay rakes, and 800 sprayers were also purchased by UK farmers last year.

n The value of sales for all agricultural machinery in the UK reached more than £2.4 billion in 2022, the last year for which data is available.

n The most popular brand of tractor is John Deere, with a 30.4% market share in the UK. Case New Holland is the next most common manufacturer with a 26% share (16.3% New Holland and 9.7% Case). Agco has a 22.2% market share (is brands are Massey Ferguson 10.6%; Fendt 6.5%; Valtra 5.2%). Kubota has a 7.3% market share. Claas has a 3.6% market share, JCB has a 2.1% share, followed by a few other brands.

n The most common months to buy a tractor are March/April, an ‘average’ tractor is 160hp­180hp and will cost between £125,000 and £150,000, although the spend will probably be a bit more for Lincolnshire given they’re employed for arable tasks and necessitate a bit more power to work our heavy soils.

Figures from Agricultural Engineers Association.

Horticulture in Lincolnshire

Horticulture... it’s a tricky term to define. It’s thought that horticulture is worth £5bn to the UK economy each year (according to the Chartered Institute of Horticulture) and it is estimated to employ over 50,000 people all helping to grow fruit and some vegetables, as well as herbs and ornamentals; ‘plants for decorative rather than practical use.’

Lincolnshire has 209 horticultural holdings, totalling 19,000 hectares (12% of all horticultural land in England), which contributes significantly to the UK’s veg exports (worth £82m) and its fruit exports (worth £70m).

In terms of ornamentals, the UK’s flower and bulb industry is worth £179m, its potted plant market is worth £330m and its hardy ornamental nursery stock industry is worth £1,177m.

Horticulture in Lincolnshire

There are over 300 horticultural categories under the umbrella term which cover peas and beans, other veg and salad, glasshouse and protected crops, top fruit, small fruit, hardy nursery stock, herbs, hops for brewing etc.

Lincolnshire produces 22% of the country’s peas and beans, 26% of its vegetables and salads, 7.7% of its glasshouse crops, 0.8% of its top fruit (e.g.: apples, pears), 0.6% of its small fruit and 23% of its hardy nursery stock.

South Holland constitutes the greatest area in the local horticulture sector, responsible for about 31% of the county’s horticultural output, followed by Boston at 27% and East Lindsey at 19%.

The Lincolnshire Agricultural Society

The Lincolnshire Agricultural Society was formed in 1869, a charitable organisation whose original mission statement was the ‘furtherance, welfare and progress of the agricultural industry and all professions, trades and crafts connected therewith.’

Long before purchasing its permanent showground at Grangede­Lings, north of Lincoln, the Society held a ‘Lincolnshire Show’ initially in late July with highlights including poultry, pigeons, seeds and roots. Before settling in the showground the show was peripatetic, held at Scunthorpe, Bourne, Brocklesby Park, Skegness and Louth among others.

In 1898, as part of the event, Lincoln’s Stonebow was decorated with thousands of flowers, and in 1959, the 76th Lincolnshire Show was the first held at the current Lincolnshire Showground, which is owned by the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society.

Entrance was charged at 10 shillings – double the price of previous shows – and 13 stewards oversaw the event. Today there are over 200 stewards helping to bring to fruition an event which attracts

Horticulture in Lincolnshire

Among the biggest names in Lincolnshire’s horticultural sector is Bridge Farm. Established in 1988 by Jayne and Tony Ball, the couple’s son David joined the business in 2010. Initially Bridge Farm Nurseries had a modest quarter of an acre of glasshouse space which has grown steadily over the years. In 2018 the farm gained planning permission for a new glasshouse facility costing £45m situated on a new 100 acre site.

Today the farm comprises 60 acres of glasshouses, employing 130 people, which increases to 200 staff in high season, and it produces 70m plants a year. The company produces 70 different types of bedding plants, from spring into autumn such as geranium, petunia, dahlia, pansy, fuchsia, sunflower and busy Lizzie. It also produces perennials such as hydrangea, delphinium, salvia, hosta, and verbena. The business also grows 25 stems of tulips each year, one million poinsettia plants for Christmas and crops for the bioscience sector.

Elsewhere in Lincolnshire, fifth generation farmers Smith & Munson specialises in growing British tulips, lilies and ranunculus, which they sell directly to the public online at www.smithandmunson.com.

Naylor Flowers grows flowers for retailers such as M&S and Waitrose, from daffodils to delphiniums, sunflowers to sweet Williams. These businesses are among several hundred in the UK Food Valley (Lincolnshire and Rutland), contributing to a sector of agriculture worth over £600m/year.

around 60,000 people, with 500 exhibitors, 2,927 livestock and equine entries, 5,000 rosettes awarded, 18 hours of entertainment in the main ring, 3,307 glasses of Pimm’s consumed, 20,000 ice creams sold (subject to the weather!), and a boost to Lincolnshire’s economy of up to £11m each time it’s held.

The 270­acre Lincolnshire Showground is home to other events too, like Countryside Lincs in spring and the Food & Gift Fair which will be held from Saturday 30th November to Sunday 1st December this year. See www.lincolnshireshowground.co.uk.

THE NATIONAL FARMERS’ UNION

Representing 45,000 members

Where else could the NFU originate but in Lincolnshire? Back in 1904, our farmers founded the Lincolnshire Farmers’ Union, which was itself based on the Lincolnshire Labour League which had about 10 local groups, but disbanded in 1896.

From 1904, neighbouring counties followed Lincolnshire’s example and established similar organisations, and in 1908, these organisations all merged to establish the National Farmers’ Union with Colin Campbell as its first president.

In 1910 the group established an additional but separate organisation, NFU Mutual, offering insurance and latterly financial services. By 1913 the NFU had 20,000 members, and today it represents 45,000 farming and growing businesses.

Headquartered in Warwickshire with NFU Cymru in Powys, the NFU also has offices in Westminster and Belgium, as well as four regional offices including NFU Midlands.

Here in Lincolnshire, Rhonda Thompson represents northern Lincolnshire and her remit is combinable crops, sugar beet and livestock. South Lincolnshire is represented by Gabriella Gregory, whose farming specialisms includes vegetable production and horticulture.

The NFU’s purpose is to champion British agriculture and horticulture, to campaign for a stable and sustainable future for British farmers and to secure the best possible deal for its members.

From lobbying Westminster and Brussels to championing food standards and bringing together the rural community, the NFU can offer anything from professional services and technical expertise, also hosting regional and national events as well as securing coverage in the media. It represents farming in 2024 under its current president, Tom Bradshaw, who succeeded Minette Batters in 2024.

See www.nfuonline.com.

Livestock in Lincolnshire

Lincolnshire is predominantly arable in terms of its farming output, but that’s not to say it’s totally devoid of livestock... or livestock heritage. It is the only British county that developed its own breeds of livestock in all five farming categories; Lincoln Red cattle, Lincoln Longwool sheep, Lincolnshire Curly Coat pigs, Lincolnshire Black horses, and Lincolnshire Buff chickens.

In the early 20th century, you’d see a Lincolnshire farming landscape much more abundant in livestock before a combination of large, flat fields ideal for larger machinery, acknowledgement that of our high quality soils are great for arable crops, and the favouring of commercial breeds of cattle all conspired to see Lincolnshire’s arable bias dramatically increase. But there are still large quantities of cattle and sheep to be found in our marsh, heath, and Lincolnshire Wolds areas, typically on land less suited to large-scale arable farming.

The Lincoln Red

There are around 4,000 Lincoln Red sired calves born every year, with the 160 members of the Lincoln Red Cattle Society running some 3,250 Pedigree Lincoln Red breeding cows. Just under half of the Society’s members are based in Lincolnshire, the breed being widely spread round the length and breadth of England and Scotland. There are also many Lincoln Reds to be found in Ireland, Wales, Canada, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

The notion of selective cattle breeding was first floated by Gervaise Markham in 1695, with deliberate selective breeding conducted from the 18th century. The original cattle of Lincolnshire were distinguished by their enormous size, but slow powers of fattening. In the late 18th, and early 19th centuries, the new type of Shorthorn

was imported from Durham and Northumberland, the most famous being a bull called Comet bought at Charles Colling’s great sale of 1810. The best known of these forward thinking breeders was Thomas Turnell of Reasby near Scothern. When the first Lincoln Red Pedigree Herd Book was published in 1896, a year after the formation of the Lincoln Red Shorthorn Association, a lot of the cattle registered could be traced back to his famous herd. Every animal entered in the 123 Herd Books, published by the society since 1896, has its Sire and Dam listed, thus enabling a family history to be built up, with many of today’s Lincoln Reds having a 30 generation Pedigree. The Lincoln Red was a good dual breed, producing plenty of milk, delicious meat with a good marbling of fat throughout. It’s naturally polled (hornless) and thrives on natural pasture, with an average working weight of 750kg for a cow, 1,000kg for a bull.

Michael Read has one of the larger herds of Lincoln Reds, it is based in Hemingby and currently numbers around 55 cows. His father established the herd in 1941, but sadly it is being dispersed in October 2024, because he has no one to carry on his lifetime’s work. The herd was not exhibited at the Lincolnshire Show this year for the first time since 1955 and because of this, Michael was honoured to be asked to judge the Beef Interbreed classes. There was another strong turnout of Lincoln Reds, though; over 50 head for their National Show.

Dairy in Lincolnshire

In 2010 there were 39 dairy holdings in Lincolnshire, a decade later that number fell to just 14. One of the remaining dairy herds is Adam Duguid’s Home Farm Dairy at Caenby Corner. His mixed farming operation spans around 1,880 acres, a third of which is used to graze 380 Montbéliardes, Norwegian Red and Holsteins.

A Lincoln Red belonging to Hayley Williamson from Red House Farm near Woodhall Spa at this year’s Lincolnshire Show.

The farm’s milk is taken to the dairy daily, from milking twice a day (total production about 3.1m litres/year), by Arla, the largest dairy cooperative with 10,300 farmers overall, of which 2,400 are British. You can also enjoy purchase milk fresh from the farm gate at Home Farm Dairy as the company has its own vending machine.

Incidentally, the UK produces about 15.3bn litres of milk each year, with a UK-wide dairy herd population of 1,086,534. The market is worth £4.4bn and employs over 80,000 people nationally. Each of us consumes 144 pints a year, 98% of the population regularly consumes dairy products and a pint will provide milk for about 20 cups of tea. Whilst we’re on the subject of consumption, the majority of beef consumed in the UK is from Limousin, Charolais and Simmental herds. The next most common breeds are Angus, Shorthorn and Herefords.

A word, too, for the county’s cheesemakers, including FW Read of Alford, best known for producing Lincolnshire Poacher with help from their 230 Holstein Fresians. Meanwhile, near Market Rasen, Mary & Michael produce Cote Hill cheese with help from their sons Joe & Ross, and from their 80 pedigree Fresians

Sheep Farming in Lincolnshire

Lincolnshire’s total sheep and lamb population is 147,402, including 1,812 rams and 72,123 lambs under a year. The Texel, Suffolk and Charollais (NB: Not Charolais!) sheep are some of the most common sheep breeds in the UK. As for Lincolnshire’s own breed, the Lincoln Longwool Sheep Breeders Association was founded in 1892, and there are currently 91 registered flocks with 116 registered members and 11 official heritage breed shows including the Lincolnshire Show. The national population of Lincoln Longwools stands at between 700 and 800 breeding ewes. Among the champions of the breed are Louise and Ian Fairburn of Risby Grange, and the South Orsby Estate.

Shepherdess Sophie Arlott has lived on her farm since 1999 and established her Lavinton flock – about 250 ewes – carefully breeding in desirable traits to create her own breed, with characteristics of the Hebridean and Southdown. This is slow-reared lamb, or more technically, hogget as it’s over a year old at point of consumption. The meat is high-welfare in nature, pasture-fed, sweet, flavoursome and quite unlike anything you’ve tasted for years.

Sophie’s current restaurant customers include Restaurant Sat Bains, The Six Bells at Witham and Lincoln’s Jews House. You can purchase Lavinton Lamb directly from Sophie at www.lavinton.com, including her gourmet lamb burgers, plus Merguez & Moroccan Sausages. It’s also available at the Burghley Fine Food Market (24th-26th August); from Lincoln Farmers Market (third Saturday of the month); Fulbeck’s Artisan Market (second Saturday of the month) and at Kingscliffe Active Farmers Market (held on the first Sunday of every month).

Pigs in Lincolnshire

And finally, this little piggy is delighted to be one of Grasmere Farm’s Hampshire Cross animals. Established in 1969 the company is the best in the business, and its pork and sausages are favoured in some of Lincolnshire’s finest restaurants... a shame, though, that the last of Lincolnshire’s own heritage pig breed, the Curly Coat, died in 1972. The stocky and rather large breed typically weighed in at a porky 250kg!

Poultry & Egg Production in Lincolnshire

Counting your chickens

couple of

Whether they’ve hatched or not, there’s no need to count your chickens, as we’ve done it for you. There are about 131m across England and Wales, about 15.1m of which are right here in Lincolnshire. The county is home to about 25% of the country’s breeding stock, 20% of the country’s broiler (meat) birds and about 7% of the country’s breeding flock.

About 11bn eggs are laid each year, each of us consumes about 200 eggs each year, 85% from supermarkets. UK egg production is worth £1bn year. Free range eggs now account for 70% of the UK egg market. The Happy Egg Co is the most common brand on our shelves and is produced by Lincolnshire based Noble Foods, the UK’s biggest producer and supplier of Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda’s eggs. The company packs 32m/year at its North Scarle Premises between Lincoln and Newark, and the average size of the company’s laying flock is 16,000 birds.

The Lincolnshire Buff was the county’s very own poultry breed, first recorded around 1854 and thought to blend the characteristics of a Chinese Cochin and a traditional British Dorkin. Its breed standards were never recorded and by the 1920s/1930s the breed had all but disappeared from farms.

Happily, in 1981 Riseholme College embarked on a project to resurrect the breed’s popularity. Brian Sands registered the breed’s characteristics with the Poultry Club of GB in 1997 having established the Lincolnshire Buff Poultry Society – of which he is still the President – in 1995. Unusually the Lincolnshire Buff has five toes (most poultry breeds have three). They’re easy to rear, docile and prove to be good layers.

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Brian Sands’ Lincolnshire Buffs.

Facts and Figures

Farming in Lincolnshire

Data from DEFRA Farming Statistics, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. NB: A ‘holding’ is the term Defra defines as an operation with significant levels of farming activity: more than five hectares of agricultural land, 0.5 hectares of vegetables or 0.1 hectares of protected crops, or more than 10 cows, or 50 pigs, or 20 sheep, or 20 goats or 1,000 poultry.

How many farms are there in Britain and across Lincolnshire?

Holdings Hectares

North East 4,239 579,749

North West/Mersey 12,658 902,680

York & Humber 12,126 1,098,678

E/Mids (incl Lincs) 11,614 1,177,690

W/Midlands 14,043 928,370

Eastern 11,408 1,398,306

S/East (inc London) 13,015 1,133,816

S/West 22,117 1,756,259

Total England 105,220 8,975,549

East Midlands Holdings Hectares

Derby 18 509

E/Derbyshire 542 33,431

S/W Derbyshire 2,346 140,142

Nottingham 5 704

N/Nottinghamshire 902 97,760

S/Nottinghamshire 421 39,640

Leics/Rutland 2,176 190,328

W/Northants 1,140 108,082

N/Northants 567 78,179

Lincolnshire 3,497 488,915

Total East Midlands 11,614 1,177,690

Lincolnshire Holdings Hectares

Boston 259 31,814

East Lindsey 1,058 137,272

Lincoln, N/Kesteven 537 82,399

South Holland 540 66,689

South Kesteven 452 17,921

West Lindsey 651 98,920

Lincs By Hectare Cereals Fruit/Veg

Boston 12,865 6,014

East Lindsey 70,999 4,174

Lincoln, N/Kesteven 43,477 2,080

South Holland 33,281 6,788

South Kesteven 41,722 398

West Lindsey 51,043 2,431

What do Lincolnshire’s farms produce and how much land do they use for each farming sector?

Arable/Horticultural Holdings Area (Ha) Cereals 1,260 272,520

Who works on our farms?

How is the land of Lincolnshire’s commercial holdings owned/used?

Land Use

(Ha)

does Lincolnshire grow?

How large are Lincolnshire farms? Size of Holding (Ha)

What is Lincolnshire’s population of livestock/animals and what is England’s national population?

Potato plant in flower near Boston. Usually planted once every five years and rotated with grass/cereal crops, ‘earlies’ are planted late March, main crops are planted in April. The flowers are a sign that tubers are maturing and after five months in the soil, they can be harvested into September and October. Grimme, based in Swineshead, manufacturers over 150 machine types for planting and harvesting potatoes, beets, onions and carrots.

Lincolnshire Production as a Percentage of England

Value of Crops in Lincolnshire

Our region is responsible for growing 30% of the nation's vegetables and producing 18% of the poultry, with a total agricultural output of over £2bn (Source: GLEP).

What about North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire

Because North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire is in the Yorkshire & Humber region they are excluded from the DEFRA figures for Greater Lincolnshire. The two areas have a labour force of 1,381 working on 534 holdings, totalling 65,671Ha.

How much food does the UK produce, import and export?

Where do our vegetables come from? UK: 53%. EU: 39%. Rest of world: 8%.

Where does our fresh fruit come from? UK: 16%. EU: 28%. Rest of world: 56%.

n In meat, milk, and eggs, the UK produces roughly the equivalent volume to what it consumes. In 2020 it produced 61kg of meat, 227 litre of milk and 172 eggs per person per year. By value, the UK is a net importer of dairy and beef.

n The UK is largely self­sufficient in production of grains, producing over 100% of domestic consumption of oats and barley and over 90% of wheat.

n The UK produces a significant proportion of its other crop needs; around 60% of sugar beet, 70% of potatoes and 80% of oilseeds.

How much food do we waste?

1.3bn tonnes of food worldwide goes to waste annually; 33% of all food produced for human consumption. In the UK, 4m tonnes of ‘good­to­eat’ food goes to waste in the supply chain every year, with households wasting another 6.6m tonnes, which means in the UK a total of 4.6m tonnes of UK is food wasted each year.

Looking After Farmers in Lincolnshire

Undoubtedly farming is a not just a job, or a career, but a vocation that brings a huge amount of satisfaction to anybody who works and lives within the profession. However, it’s by no means a career without its challenges, as highlighted by the recent Big Farming Survey conducted by The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI). It found that:

n 427,000 people work in agriculture across the UK, responsible for 71% of the country’s land. Of an estimated 219,000 UK holdings, over half are under 20 hectares in size, i.e.: households or families, not large holdings.

n 47% of the farming community say they are experiencing anxiety, whilst 35% report depression. Livestock and dairy sectors are statistically the worst affected.

n The most common sources of stress and anxiety in the farming profession are regulation, compliance and inspection issues (45%); Covid (44%); bad or unpredictable weather (43%); loss of subsidies or future trade (40%); rural crime (38%); the future of the farm (35%); financial pressure (31%); and not feeling valued by the public (30%).

n 52% of farmers report ongoing pain or discomfort as they work; 31% report anxiety or depression; 24% report mobility problems. A quarter of farmers surveyed report that ill-health has directly affected their ability to undertake physical farming work.

n A poor work/life balance (e.g.: both living and working on a farm) and long or antisocial hours are associated with poor sleep quality, commonly linked to depression and obesity.

It’s never been more important to look after the physical and mental health of our farmers. Happily, Lincolnshire is well-served with many organisations and charities keen to provide support across the profession. >>

LINCOLNSHIRE RURAL SUPPORT NETWORK

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, LRSN provides a lifeline to members of the agricultural community

For 25 years, Lincolnshire Rural Support Network (LRSN) has been providing tailored, confidential and free support to farmers and allied industries in Lincolnshire.

From issues surrounding financial pressures and succession issues to bereavement, physical and mental health challenges, LRSN has a nine-strong team of professionals and a further 60 volunteers who are all on hand to ensure that nobody in Lincolnshire’s agricultural, horticultural or allied industries has to face difficulty alone.

“Farming is an industry that faces increasing commercial pressures, with an ever-greater need to maintain unprecedented yields, and to invest in new technology,” says LRSN’s Head of Charity, Amy Thomas.

“It’s also an industry that is unpredictable by virtue of the weather and increasingly isolated by virtue of the displacement of labour in favour of technology, making it an increasingly solitary profession.”

“LRSN helped nearly 250 families last year with a range of issues, providing tailored advice and access to experts to help maintain the business health, the mental health, and the physical health of Lincolnshire’s farms and farmers. Our advice is free, tailored and there are no limits on the time we spend, when helping families through acute or chronic difficulties.”

Opposite are just two of LRSN’s activities that make up part of the charity’s work.

HEALTH HUB & HEALTH HUT

LRSN is keeping an eye on local farmers’ healthcare needs, with free check­ups

Lincolnshire’s Rural Support Network (LRSN) helps to look after the physical and mental health of farmers, offering printed self-help guides for conditions like sleep problems, stress or bereavement.

LRSN’s Health Hub offers telephone or video consultations with medical professionals for those in agriculture unable to secure an appointment with their GP. The service has fortnightly clinics in Louth and Spalding, as well as Melton Mowbray and now in North Lincolnshire too.

Separately, its Health Hut attends farm sales, county shows and farming trial days. No need for appointments; the hut’s nurses provide an instant, free service which checks blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and BMI as well as offering physical and mental health advice.

WOMEN IN WELLIES

LRSN’s brand new project aims to look after women in agriculture

The saying goes that a woman’s work is never done. Sadly, that’s never been more prescient as the role of women living and working in agricultural settings is broader and more pressured than ever. Juggling supporting a working farm with office or physical work, looking after their family, running the household and often holding down a separate career too means women are more stretched than ever, often to the detriment of their own physical and mental health.

Women in Wellies aims to create a support network for Lincolnshire women offering support such as health screening, and wellbeing opportunities, but also providing a chance to socialise, with events like a Wine Tasting session at Mayfield Vineyard near Sleaford on 26th September and a Wild Medicine Walk on 5th October.

For more information on Lincolnshire Rural Support Network and its free, confidential support for farmers’ physical, mental and business health, see www.lrsn.co.uk or call 0800 138 1710.

Top: LRSN at the Lincolnshire Show, and (left) Pride Editor Rob Davis is given a clean(ish) bill of health (blood pressure, cholesterol and BMI) at the LRSN Health Hub... full­cream milk is now banned though. Above: The Lincolnshire Showground team at the LRSN Rural Charities Ball.

Charities and organisations providing help and advice for the farming community...

LINCOLNSHIRE YOUNG FARMERS

The future of our countryside

Celebrations are underway this year as 2024 sees the 50th anniversary of The Lincolnshire Young Farmers.

The Federation was created in 1974 with the joining of previous countywide clubs, and when Lincolnshire affiliated to the National Federation of Young Farmers, whose history dates back to the founding of the first club in Hemyock, Devon, in 1921.

Today there are 46 County Federations across seven areas, and a membership of around 22,000 young people aged 10-28. In Lincolnshire there are 16 clubs each with around 600 members across the county. Each club typically meets on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, and then they come together for county, and national, events.

“Being a Lincolnshire Young Farmer member is a great opportunity for young people to make friends, learn new skills and have lots of fun,” says County Development Manager, Kate Knight. “Our mission is to offer fun, learning and opportunities for achievement, helping to make a meaningful contribution to rural communities.”

Find out more at www.lincsyfc.org.uk and all social media platforms.

LIVES - LINCOLNSHIRE'S VOLUNTARY EMERGENCY SERVICE

The charity with volunteers responding to 999 medical emergencies in Lincolnshire

LIVES is Lincolnshire's voluntary emergency service. Founded in 1970 by Dr Michael Cooper and Dr Richard Harper-Smith, LIVES has been active in our community for over 50 years. This year LIVES is marking 25 years since its Community First Responder initiative began! The service’s network of Community First Responders attend 999 medical emergencies and are dispatched by the ambulance service.

Impressively LIVES is on scene first 85% of the time providing immediate life-saving interventions to patients across the county. Given the rurality and geography of Lincolnshire LIVES responders are a crucial part of the chain of survival, working in tandem with EMAS (East Midlands Ambulance Service) making Lincolnshire a safer county to live in. There are four levels of CFRs, meaning that LIVES can deal with a huge range of medical emergencies. In the last 12 months, LIVES has responded to 33 agricultural incidents: 16 of those involved a vehicle/traffic, and six of those involved a fall.

Anything you can give to LIVES ensures that the service can keep its responders on the road, and can maintain the high level of training the service delivers.

Donate to LIVES or find out more about the charity at www.lives.org.uk.

Above: Aydn Walster works at Branston Potatoes near Lincoln. Branston are happy for him to work with LIVES to provide First Responder care whilst at work. As Simon Telfer, HR Director at Branston said recently: “It’s like having a supercharged first aider on site!”

LINCS & NOTTS AIR AMBULANCE

Marking 30 years of care in the air for famers and those in rural communities

Since airlifting their very first patient on 13th May 1994, Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance (LNAA) has provided a truly life-saving Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) for the local communities of Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire and to date, has responded to over 29,000 missions. 2023, was the busiest year ever with LNAA responding to 1,771 missions, including farming, industrial or equestrian situations. That makes the service essential for farmers and those who spend time in the countryside. The combination of being able to land in the middle of a field, reach any part of its catchment area within 20 minutes, provide smooth transport for those with spinal injuries and to avoid congested traffic all make it a valuable resource for reaching remote casualties.

Agricultural contractor James Bannister knows how vital LNAA is. His left arm had to be amputated after he fell into a potato harvester but he believes that the speed with which LNAA’s air ambulance got him to hospital, gave him the best outcome. James was trapped in the machinery for

two and half hours, with an LNAA doctor monitoring him constantly. Once free, it took just nine minutes to fly him to Sheffield Northern General Hospital, a journey that would have taken at least an hour by road. James believes the quick delivery to hospital saved his life; as he says, “Nothing else compares to what they do.” LNAA receives no government funding, instead the £13 million needed to keep the helicopter flying and critical care cars on the roads, 24 hours-a-day, seven-days-aweek, is provided by the generous donations of wonderful supporters living and working in Lincs and Notts.

That generosity enables LNAA’s highlyskilled team of doctors, paramedics and pilots bring the equivalent of a hospital emergency department to any patient in the county within 18 minutes. They deliver a range of life-saving treatments including blood transfusions, anaesthetics, and lifesaving drugs at the scene, giving patients the very best chance of survival when minutes matter.

Donate via www.ambucopter.org.uk.

RABI: Royal Agricultural Benevolent Ins

Free, confidential mental health support

Emmie Shaw (right) is the Lincolnshire and East Midlands Regional Manager for RABI, which was established in 1860 and supports farming people through practical, financial, and emotional assistance. The service operates a 24/7 freephone helpline, 0800 188 4444, as well as its ‘click and chat’ and face-to-face counselling services. For more information see rabi.org.uk.

LINCOLNSHIRE RURAL AGRICULTURAL CHAPLAINCY

25 years of Rev Canon Alan Robson

“I think it’s the future of faith,” says Rev Canon Alan Robson. The Methodist Minister, and Ecumenical Canon of Honour Lincoln Cathedral, moved to Lincolnshire 44 years ago and was involved in founding both the Lincolnshire Rural Support Network (LRSN) and the Lincolnshire Rural & Agricultural Chaplaincy (LRAC), which aims to offer pastoral and spiritual care to the rural community, plus promotion for (and participation in) projects to benefit resilience and wellbeing, as well as provoking ethical debate about countryside and agricultural issues, also connecting many organisations around the County.

“Chaplaincy is the fastest growing area of ministry and there are already excellent chaplaincies in schools, hospitals and prisons.” This year represents the 25th year of LRSN and 25 years of Alan’s role, the value of which has been proven over and over again.

“All industries – but certainly agriculture –have their own unique pressures. There’s an acronym I use, VUCA, which stands for volatility, uncertainly, complexity and ambiguity. All of those can contribute to stress in industries like farming.”

“Over the past 25 years the pressures have remained but I’ve noticed that people – men, especially – are more willing to say when they’re ‘not OK,’ and seek out help which is a good thing in a profession in which people work long hours, often in isolation.”

“As a county though we can offer support, comfort and care which is so important to ensuring the health and wellbeing of our farmers and our rural communities.”

“I’m really looking forward to the Festival of Chaplaincy we’re planning at Lincoln Cathedral in March 2025. And we’re also planning a special Harvest Festival event this year at the Cathedral on 3rd November, during which we will celebrate the 25th anniversary of our agricultural chaplaincy and also 50 years of Lincolnshire Young Farmers.” See www.lrac.org.uk.

Valtra at Chandlers

Power, productivity and a great working partnership

AGCO’s Valtra brand of tractors has an enthusiastic ambassador right here in Lincolnshire, in the form of Mark Nundy, owner of Windy Ridge Veg near Kirton

Image: Some of the Chandlers team at this year’s Lincolnshire Show. Opposite: Valtra’s A­Series getting stuck into some inter­row weeding, Chandlers Belton, Mark and Mick Nundy, and a Windy Ridge G­Series with Mini Veg Packer and autonomous­driving facility

Mpristine silty soil near Mark’s farm, Windy Ridge Veg, near Kirton. His newest piece of kit is towering over us, and it’s already proving to be worth its weight in engineering, pulling an Alpego power harrow behind it.

Operator Trevor is also pretty happy, enjoying unmatched levels of comfort in the cab of the beefy 305hp Q-Series Valtra tractor. Trevor is enjoying a commanding view over the soil, the air conditioning set to a cool 16°c and the combination of a good stereo (tuned to Kiss FM) plus best-in-class sound-proofing. He remarks that it’s a different proposition to the machines he used to drive when he began his career in farming 50 years ago.

Mark is impressed with the machine, and the other Valtras in his farm fleet, not only because of their comfort and usability, but their exceptional engineering and the reliable support and expertise he enjoys from his local agent, Chandlers. Windy Ridge Veg grows cabbage and brassicas across 360 hectares (890 acres), engaging in seed trials, growing plugs in trays with up to 360 plugs at a time, and planting out in three cycles to supply vegetables to the wholesale market all year round.

“About three years ago I restructured the business to serve the wholesale market rather than just supermarkets and to grow the business, expanding into different markets, growing other produce such as potatoes for Bartletts and providing cold storage.”

Farming Technology

“At the time we were used to another brand of tractors but we were already sourcing our KRM spreaders from Chandlers’ Rob Immink. Rob is great and Chandlers is a fantastic company, they’re nice people and the aftersales support they provide is exceptional. When Rob suggested we tried the Valtra brand of tractors we had an N-Series on demo that we used as a loader. We found it to be so intuitive and wellengineered that we couldn’t give it back... so we kept it!”

“Since then we’ve increased our fleet of Valtras to include four A-Series machines ideal for lighter duties like inter-row weeding and crop husbandry which have the benefit of avoiding soil compaction because of their compact size. We have three G-Series machines for pulling harvesting rigs, four N-Series machines for cultivation and ploughing duties, and a T-Series ideal for harrowing and sub-soiling.”

“Then, a couple of months ago, our largest Valtra machine, the 305hp Q-Series, arrived, loaded with technology from autotrack to on-board tyre inflation. It pulls bigger kit like a Simba Cultipress with consummate ease.”

“They’re manufactured in Finland and when I was invited to tour the factory I couldn’t believe how modern and clean and well-organised it was. Just walking around the factory I was inspired and actually ordered a couple of the machines during the visit, committing to becoming a Valtra ambassador, which the company was really pleased about, since most of the brand’s users at that time were more concerned with cereal crops than veg.”

“For us there are machines in the Valtra lineup that serve all different purposes, all working in a consistent, intuitive way with modern telematics and good ergonomics. It’s one brand across our fleet, but with individual ranges of machines that perform each job with uncanny suitability. Machinery is a big investment and its half an investment in the machine itself, but half in the dealer too. Chandlers provides exceptional backup, but the machines are well-engineered and really reliable too. Valtra is really good at listening to its clients too, manufacturing the machines we need, with features and technology that’s genuinely useful and helps to keep productivity and crop yields high.”

“We’ve been delighted with the machines and with Chandlers, I honestly can’t recommend them enough. Without our machines we can’t work; they’re mission critical. So the combination of machinery and dealer have been an integral consideration as I’ve restructured the business, ensuring we can farm some of the country’s best soils to their fullest potential.”

Chandlers has 16 depots across the UK including ones at Belton, Horncastle and Spilsby. The company is one of the largest AGCO dealers in Britain supplying and supporting machinery from Valtra, Massey Ferguson and Fendt as well as other machinery brands including Opico, Maschio and Richard Western, plus Väderstad, Kverneland and Horsch. For more information call 01476 590077. See www.chandlers.co.uk or watch Mark as he appears in a four­part documentary produced by Valtra covering a year in the life of vegetable production at www.valtra.co.uk.

BOWTHORPE PARK FARM

is a farmily farm in south lincolnshire, home to the UKs largest Girthed Oak Tree and farm shop selling Red Tractor farm assured beef pork & lamb all born & raised on our farm and hosts family friendly events throughout the year

Traditional slow maturing breeds, grass fed Lincoln Red Beef, Berkshire Pork, Jacob Lamb

Homemade ready meals, dry aged beef, deli counter, Local milk, fruit & veg, cake, ice cream and so much more

Cream teas being served in the Tipi and FREE park entry, 25th July -1st September.

Burghley The Return of

From Thursday 5th to Sunday 8th September, Defender Burghley Horse Trials will return to the parkland of Stamford’s Burghley House. It’s one of the world’s toughest eventing fixtures, and a world-class sporting event as well as a country show beloved by its well-heeled audience

Words: Rob Davis. Images: Peter Nixon (www.nixonphoto.co.uk).

Defender Burghley Horse Trials 2024

It’s back, bigger and better than ever for 2024, the Defender Burghley Horse Trials. This year will be the 60th Burghley Horse Trials to be held in the parkland of Stamford’s Elizabethan stately home. Back in 1961, an established eventing fixture which was due to take place at Harewood House was cancelled due to an outbreak of Foot & Mouth.

Happily the Marquess of Exeter was happy to host the event instead and so began a tradition of a three day eventing competition (actually held over four days), comprising a dressage round plus a cross-country course designed by Derek di Grazia covering four miles and with 30 fences, then the competition’s showjumping element. The competition itself is central to the event, of

course, and is rated CCI5* by the sport’s governing body, the International Federation for Equestrian Sports, which makes it one of the toughest competitions in the world.

In terms of its difficulty, Defender Burghley Horse Trials ranks alongside the Badminton Horse Trials, held in Gloucestershire in the month of May and the Kentucky Three Day Event held in Lexington in September.

Competitors who win Burghley walk away with a prize of £110,000 plus a horsebox full of glory, but those who also win Badminton and Kentucky in any order within 12 months win the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing, and receive £275,000, on top of the prizes for each competition. It’s a feat achieved by Pippa Funnell in 2003 and Michael Jung in 2016.

The appeal of the Burghley Horse Trials though extends far beyond its status as a world-class eventing fixture. Each year over 175,000 spectators enjoy the event’s ability to provide unsurpassed luxury shopping thanks to 600 trade stands and over 100 food and drink vendors.

There’s also the chance to spot a few celebrities. Past competitors include HRH The Princess Royal, who took the European Championship in 1971, and Zara Tindall, who competed at last year’s event.

In total Defender Burghley Horse Trials takes place across 530 acres, with 80 competitors and 340 horses on site. The event is beloved by locals too as it’s thought to be worth over £20m to the local economy each year.

Past competitors include HRH The Princess Royal, and Zara Tindall, who competed last year...

Find Out More: Defender Burghley Horse Trials takes place from 5th­8th Sept. Friday £30, Saturday £52.50, Sunday £30. Car parking £55/four day adv. Season admission £115/adv. Season car parking £55. Membership from £385. See www.burghley­horse.co.uk or call the box office on 01780 752 131.

Six of the Best at Burghley

Half a dozen reasons to enjoy this year’s Defender Burghley Horse Trials

1. THE PREMIUM SHOPPING

With over 600 carefully-selected trade stands, the Defender Burghley Horse Trials is a great place to browse a range of quality products from the best British names. Everything from jewellery from Boodles to country clothing from Dubarry and Holland Cooper to fine art from Gladwells and Belinda Sillars, to equestrian kit from LeMieux... it’s all here!

4. THE LIVE COVERAGE

With so much going on all at once and an event that spans over 350 acres, keeping up with the action can be tricky. Happily, Burghley TV returns for 2024 hosted by Nick Luck and Rosie Tapner with commentary, analysis and behind-the-scenes footage and interviews. Also back is BHT Radio, at 87.7fm, with its expert audio commentary.

2. THE FOOD & DRINK

With over 100 food vendors, there’s plenty to eat and drink at Defender Burghley Horse Trials. Pol Roger is a sponsor and over 4,800 glasses of Champagne will be quaffed during the event. In addition, 26 gallons of Pimm’s and (weather permitting!) 20,000 ice creams will also be enjoyed. The Avebury Restaurant, is new for 2024 and open to non-members.

5. THE DEFENDER EXPERIENCE

From effortless towing to crossing tricky terrain... wherever you need to go, go there in style and comfort with Defender, available in 90, 110 and 130 wheelbase variants. See the vehicle and its outstanding range of abilities demonstrated on the south side of the lake, and experience the premium feel of the most desirable off-road vehicle on the market.

3. THE FRESH TALENT

Two highlights of Defender Burghley Horse Trials are the LeMieux Pony Club Team Jumping Competition in the House Arena on Thursday, and the Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse competition, which is open to horses aged four and five years old. The event is now in its fourth decade and introduces the audience to the eventing horses of the future.

6. THE FESTIVAL ATMOSPHERE

Burghley Boutique is a bespoke camping experience ideal if you’re keen to remain at Burghley throughout the whole competition and beat the traffic in the morning. Breakfast is also included and there’s a bar around a campfire for relaxing in the evening with exclusive guest speakers... a dedicated golf buggy will also you ferry you to the event!

What’s On

Saturday24th August

Sunday 25th August

Monday 26th August

Alford Craft Market

Established in 1974, Alford Craft Market is organised by Heather & Michel Ducos of Alford Pottery who shared a long-held vision to create a venue where makers and artists could gather and sell their work, offering the public something different, handmade with love in a variety of different disciplines from ceramics and wood to iron, glass, textiles etc. Music, theatre and specialist makers have been encouraged to join and display their skill. The organisation relies entirely on the goodwill of dedicated volunteers, and it really does deserve its success.

Call 01507 463341 or see www.alfordcraftmarket.co.uk.

Music by Candlelight in Lincoln

Friday 30th August Rod Stewart by

Candlelight

Lincoln Cathedral is a superb backdrop for one of the UK’s leading Rod Stewart tribute acts and the event’s incredible live band performing by candlelight.

‘Tonight’s The Night,’ ‘Da Ya Think I’m Sexy,’ ‘You’re In My Heart,’ plus ‘The First Cut Is The Deepest’ ‘Sailing’ and many more, performed live!

Tickets £20­£45, from 7.30pm, Lincoln Cathedral, LN2 1PX, see www.concertsbycandlelight.com

Tuesday 27th August and Wednesday 28th August

Hamlet Live at

Doddington Hall

Enjoy an unforgettable open-air theatre experience on the Croquet Lawn as The Lord Chamberlain’s Men bring Hamlet to Doddington Hall in Lincoln.

£20/adult, £12/under16, 7pm, See www.doddingtonhall.com.

Thursday 19th September to Sunday 22th September

Boston Book Festival 2024

Literary festival with three great local venues (Fydell House, Blackfriars Arts Centre and Boston Guildhall) all hosting a wealth of authors including former MP Alan Johnson and Megan Clawson, daughter of former Beefeater Chris Clawson who wrote her first book, Falling Hard for the Royal Guard during lockdown whilst living in the Tower of London.

facebook.com/bostbookfest

Thursday 26th September to Sunday 29th September

Lincoln Book Festival 2024

Taking place this month across venues including Lincoln Drill Hall and The Collection, Lincoln. Programme TBC as Pride goes to press, see website for details.

www.lincolnbookfestival.org

Send your press releases and events to us via editor@pridemagazines.co.uk

Sunday 1st September The 40th Wragby Show

A great day out with a friendly atmosphere for people to socialise and enjoy the open air with a full programme of main ring entertainment!

Featuring a wealth of trade stands, children’s entertainment, food stalls and bar, classic cars,

tractors and stationary engines, grand draw, carriage driving, horse show with show jumping and heavy horses, a fun dog show, horticulture classes plus poultry show and live music. New for 2024 is archery and axe throwing, a tug of war and gun dog demonstrations.

£12/adults, £5/children over 5, Catchem’s Corner, LN8 5JD. See www.wragbyshow.co.uk.

Mad, Bad & Dangerous

Spend an evening in the extraordinary company of Ranulph Fiennes, the world’s greatest living explorer

7th, 13th, 20th September

A 1960s Trio in South Holland

A trio of top acts this month at Spalding’s South Holland Centre, with The Cavern Beatles on Saturday 7th September from 7.30pm, renowned for their authentic tribute to the legendary Fab Four. Then on Friday 13th September, The Foundations will perform their hits including ‘Build Me Up Buttercup’ and ‘Baby Now that I’ve Found You.’ Finally, Friday 20th September ensures you have A Night To Remember, with the finest songs from 1960s Detroit.

South Holland Centre, Spalding PE11 1SS. Call 01775 764777 or see southhollandcentre.co.uk.

Friday 6th September

Saturday

28th September

Full Circle with Aled Jones at Lincoln’s New Theatre Royal

Aled Jones is hitting the road for a major UK tour with his production Full Circle, and fans can prepare to hear him as they’ve never heard him before when he visits the New Theatre Royal Lincoln.

Aled captivated the world with his angelic voice, but he’s equally at home on the classical stage or starring in musical theatre productions in the West End. He is also well-known as an award-winning broadcaster and radio presenter.

Standard tickets £33, 6.30pm, New Theatre Royal, Lincoln, see newtheatreroyallincoln.co.uk.

Sir Ranulph Fiennes at Baths Hall

This month explorer Sir Ranulph Twisleton Wykeham Fiennes invites you to spend an evening in his company to decide for yourself if his sobriquet of ‘world's greatest living explorer’ is justified. Ranulph will tell the story behind his recordbreaking achievements and, live on stage, he will share stories from his legendary exploits and adventures, telling untold tales of the world’s most extraordinary feats of daring and exploration.

Delivered in his own inimitable fashion and accompanied by some stunning, never-beforeseen images and home videos, this show guarantees to leave you entertained and sufficiently inspired to seek out your own life adventures as he recalls how he reached the summit of Mount Everest in May 2009.

Tickets £34, from 7.30pm, Baths Hall, Scunthorpe DN15 7RG, call 01724 296296 or see scunthorpetheatres.co.uk.

Food For Thought

This season sees a trio of delicious food-themed events

Saturday 24th August ­ Monday 26th August

Summer Fine Food Market

Shop for and enjoy local produce in the stunning surroundings of the Chestnut & Stable Courtyards at Burghley House this August at the Summer Fine Food Market.

Featuring a wide range of exhibitors including dishes from around the world, handmade cheese, soft and alcoholic beverages, sweet treats and rare breed meat.

Admission to the market and parkland is free, with additional charges to enjoy the house, its gardens and the Hide & Secrets adventure playground.

Call 01780 752451 or see www.burghley.co.uk.

Saturday 17th August, 21st September

Lincoln Farmers’ Market

Taking place on the third Saturday of every month, the Lincoln Farmers’ Market is packed with local produce and delicious treats.

22 stall-holders will take part in the market and the participating businesses are genuine local farmers and primary producers of exceptional quality produce, 80% of which is grown and produced in Lincolnshire.

The market showcases some of the finest local producers of cheese, organic bread, honey, jams, chutneys and pickles.

Lincoln Farmers’ Markets is based at Castle Hill, the third Saturday of each month.

Saturday 12th October

Lincoln Sausage Festival

October is the month that the merry folk of Lincoln tuck into more than 30,000 bangers at the Lincoln Sausage Festival, held in the glorious setting of Lincoln Castle and on Uphill Lincoln’s streets.

Featuring live music from The Cosmic Sausages, street entertainment including Mr & Mrs Sausage, cookery demos with chef Rachel Green, Juggling Jim, Colour Me’s face painting, Earth Bound Misfits delivering circus skills, workshops, sausages (of course) and much more! Good fun and a celebration of quality food.

For more information see www.visitlincolnshire.com.

Dining Out

San Pietro’s Stunning New Giardino Saying “Ti Amamu!” to

For over 20 years, San Pietro has offered high-quality authentic Italian fine-dining with style. The recent addition of its new al fresco dining menu offers another point of difference that’s highly enjoyable. This month we’re saying ‘ti amamu’ to San Pietro’s Giardino

Words: Rob Davis.

Well that’s good timing! After pretty questionable weather this summer, the sun finally came out, just in time for a week of annual leave. The present Mrs Davis had carefully curated a list of jobs around the house that required my attention, and if the weather wasn’t all that great, I anticipated being stuck at home working methodically through said list. On the other hand, in the event of bright sunshine and warm temperatures, I knew she’d insist that we ‘go somewhere and do [an unspecified] something.’

Whilst this summer hasn’t been terrifically balmy, this magazine is published in early August, so there’s still plenty of opportunities for a warm and pleasant couple of months... which is just what we enjoyed that week. When my wife canvassed me for suggestions as to where we could go, I was happy to have San Pietro’s Giardino up my sleeve to recommend, saving me from a fate worse than chores.

It’s the outdoor terrace of North Lincolnshire’s fine dining Italian restaurant: San Pietro celebrated its 20th anniversary last year and continues to provide a unique setting and a delectable dining experience, especially al fresco.

Happily, even if the sun still refuses to shine, you can always enjoy the restaurant’s absolutely maravigghia Italian cuisine in Pietro and Michelle Catalano’s lovely modern dining rooms, created just over 20 years ago in their Grade II-listed 19th-century windmill just off Scunthorpe’s High Street East.

Pietro is from Sicily, where ingredients are fresh, dishes are simple, and everything is bright and colourful and happy, perfect for a lovely sunny week off and an afternoon lazing in the restaurant's Giardino.

Bringing Sicilian philosophy to San Pietro, with twoAA-rosette cuisine, Pietro and Head Chef Chris Grist provide exceptional quality à la carte dining and a tasting menu with eight dishes, but also a prix-fixe menu del giorno which offers exceptional value relative to the authenticity and skill evident in the dishes on offer.

There’s also a Sunday Lunch menu, an afternoon tea menu and Festa menu for parties of 12 or over in a traditional Italian-style. Giardino, meanwhile, has its own dedicated menu, and is located adjacent to the terrace with its pizza oven and bar.

Opposite: Cornfed chicken, parmesan potato croquettes, parmesan, parsley, garlic espuma, courgettes, crispy chicken skin, confit lemon puree, chicken and lemon jus (menu del giorno). Above: Roast red king prawns in garlic, spiced bean puree, mascapone, Nduja roast chilli and garlic oil, salami crisps (à la carte). Bavette beef and sticky beef (à la carte).

Dining Out

San Pietro

North Lincolnshire

À La Carte Menu

ANTIPASTI

Roast red king prawns in garlic, spiced bean puree, mascapone, Nduja roast chilli and garlic oil, salami crisps, £14.95.

King scallops, scallop roe crumb, pickled seaweed, seaweed velouté, cauliflower with bonito, £16.95.

Rabbit terrine, crispy ham hock, toasted almond, foie gras bon bon, pea puree and brioche, £12.95.

PASTA & RISOTTO

Cavatelli, Lincolnshire sausage, pancetta, peas, mascarpone and lemon, £13.50/£19.50.

Paccheri pasta, slow-cooked beef ragu, truffle and burrata espuma, £14.95/£21.50.

Pea and wild garlic risotto, lemon ricotta, black olive puree, lemon & mint dressing, courgette salsa, pine nut crumb, £12.95/£19.95.

Prawn, pea and truffle tagliolini, £14.95/£22.95.

SECONDI

Aged Rib Eye steak tagliata, balsamic onions, rocket, parmesan and pine nut salad with Italian roast potatoes, £36.50.

Pig three ways: pork belly, pan fried fillet, crispy terrine, butter beans with salami and pancetta, leeks, pork jus and sage oil, £25.95.

Fillet of halibut, warm crab potato salad, red king prawn, Prosecco, caviar velouté and asparagus, £32.

I DOLCI

Lemon and pistachio choux, pistachio ice-cream, £10.95.

Chocolate pyramid, peanut crumb and caramel ice cream, £12.50.

NB: Sample menu and featured dishes, subject to availability and change.

Michelle has taken the lead designing Giardino, inspired by the Amalfi coast and offering quality outdoor dining

As a former interior designer, Michelle has taken the lead in designing Giardino, which is intended to evoke the feeling of Amalfi and coastal holidays in Sicily, and to offer an outdoor space in which to enjoy an aperitif or dining in a lovely shaded garden surrounded by olive trees.

The menu for Giardino is predicated upon a traditional antipasti, cicchetti (small snacks or plates) and apperitivo format, but all menus are available to dine outside, subject to weather.

Served from Thursday to Sunday from midday it comprises dishes like a classic bruschetta, burrata, a four-piece king prawns platter with toasted focaccia, and signature antipasti. A rocket leaf and parmesan salad or truffle and parmesan chips available. Dishes are priced separately allowing you to enjoy a long, sociable afternoon grazing

San Pietro’s menu del giorno is very good value, being priced at £28.50/two courses, £35/three courses with a choice of four dishes per course. Buffalo mozzarella with heritage tomato, hot smoked salmon and crispy pork belly starters are a precursor to

pan-fried seabass, slow-cooked blade of beef and cornfed chicken.

The à la carte menu comprises a selection of antipasti, pasta and risotto dishes, eight secondi dishes blending the finest British ingredients with traditional Sicilian flavours and values. There’s also a choice of five puddings from chocolate pyramid to apple tarte tartin and a lemon and pistachio choux, plus an artisanal cheese selection and after dinner cocktails.

Finally, the taster menu is £79/person, with an optional flight of Sicilian wine at £55 whilst Sunday lunch is offered with one, two or three courses for £19.95, £29 and £35 respectively.

There’s no doubt in my mind that the menu del diorno is really good value, and each dish is beautifully presented, but to our mind the à la carte menu offers more choice and very special dishes like our 35-day aged, fillet steak Rossini, truffle beef in a silky rich Maderia jus, with truffle potato pave, wilted spinach and a fois gras espuma – pioneered by Ferran Adrià at El Bulli.

Opposite: Hot smoked salmon, lemon, ricotta, elements of beetroot. This page: Pistachio and mascarpone parfait, crispy white chocolate and pistachio filo, nectarine. Both on menu del giorno £28.50/two, £35/three courses.

Dining Out

Pietro and Chris try to source as many of the ingredients for their dishes from as close to the restaurant as possible without making any concessions to quality.

Butchery is from R&J based in Ripon, so not quite local, but with a signature range of salt-aged beef and as they’re also suppliers to restaurants like Winteringham Fields, Beverley’s Michelin Star-wielding Pipe & Glass and Shaun Rankin at posh country pile Grantley Hall, it’s a supplier worth favouring.

Otherwise fish is purchased and delivered fresh from Grimsby each day via several smaller specialist merchants and vegetables are locally sourced too.

A few specialist ingredients include Pietro’s own family estate extra virgin olive oil, pistachio pesto, chestnut honey to name but a few and lentils grown in his hometown, wild oregano and artisan flours.

Online there’s a video of Pietro in his native Italy on San Pietro’s website accompanied by a jolly jazz soundtrack... worth a watch!

Everything in San Pietro is produced in the kitchen from bread to ice creams and sorbets to the petit fours served with the finest Italian coffee. Presentation is really stunning but the fundamentals of really good ingredients, skilful chefcraft and well-judged flavours are present in abundance, meaning this is a restaurant with style and substance.

Speaking of which, the couple added a 14 bedroom hotel adjacent to the restaurant a decade or so ago, and they’re modern, comfortable and very funky.

Naturally we’re hoping you can enjoy a late summer evening in the Giardino. But if not, the restaurant is comfortable and well-designed, and the service is spot-on thanks to a really lovely team. San Pietro is undoubtedly stylish and offers a point of difference from other restaurants in Lincolnshire. But its uniqueness is underpinned with a fundamental sense of quality that makes dining out a pleasure... it’s a restaurant we’re happy and very keen to recommend, hopefully with added appeal this season of al fresco dining in Giardino.

San Pietro North Lincolnshire

The Pitch: A stylish setting in which to enjoy two­AA Rosette Award winning fine dining in Lincolnshire.

San Pietro uses the Sicilian heritage of chef­director Pietro Catalano as the inspiration for its menus.

Lunch: Wednesday to Saturday, 12 noon – 1:30pm

Evening: Tuesday to Saturday, 6:00pm – 9:30pm

Sunday Lunch: 12 noon – 3:00pm

High Street East, Scunthorpe North Lincolnshire DN15 6UH. Call 01724 277774 or see www.sanpietro.uk.com.

Opposite: The restaurant’s Il Giardino menu is available Thursday to Sunday from 12 midday, along with a pizza menu subject to weather.

www.mayfieldvineyard.co.uk 07976 912883 events@mayfieldvineyard.co.uk

COMING SOON TO MAYFIELD VINEYARD, A TASTING ROOM AND SHOP ONSITE.

BARN OWL FIZZ is back by popular demand, available at our 2022 price while supplies last.

MAYFIELD RETREATS is the perfect destination for a mini break, party, or family gathering. Explore all our properties on our website: Howell Barn, The Glebe, The Red Brick Barn, and Mayfield Lodge. All properties feature hot tubs, and dogs are welcome!

Interested in joining us for the HARVEST? We're always looking for eager volunteers to help pick our grapes. Wine will be provided!

From hedgerow to hearth, the taste of the countryside

Ideal for late summer and early autumn, Warner’s spiced blackberry gin

Bursting with berries, spice and everything nice, Warner’s Spiced Blackberry Gin was originally launched as a special edition but sold out within 24 hours and so became a permanent product line. Rich, fruity with just a bit of spice!

£32 / 70cl / 30% ABV warnersdistillery.com

Wine of the Month

The Wine Cellar

This month we’ve the last of the summer wines, ideal for enjoying in the late summer or early autumn sunshine, or on a picnic. With a nod to the hedgerows, we raise a glass to late August and early September

Pinot Gris: A richer, less acidic sibling of Pinot Grigio

Rich and luxurious with a apricot sweetness and a nice minerality with just a hint of spice, medium dry, from Germany’s Alsace, £14.99 / 75cl / 14% ABV.

From New Zealand’s Central Otago, a Pinot Gris based wine with apricot, white peach and quince ideal with spice or chilli­based dishes, £28.85 / 75cl / 13.5% ABV.

Hampshire’s Hattingley Valley yields this Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Gris wine with apple & brioche, £36 / 75cl / 12% ABV.

We reckon we’ve found the perfect picnic wine, or a great value drop if you’re enjoying a glass in the garden or watching the action at Burghley from your sofa. Produced in Kent by Balfour Winery, this English sparkling rosé has ripe strawberry and raspberry aromas, with zesty citrus notes, and a round, toasted finish. Available exclusively from Tesco, £21 / 75cl / 11% ABV From www.tesco.com.

A sweet way to round off a summer spent in the garden

English Heritage has commissioned this elderflower and rose gin, distilled with botanicals, including juniper, rose petals, orange, orris root and elderflower.

The natural elderflower and rose extracts are expertly blended to give a gentle, floral flavour with a vibrant finish.

Enjoy with tonic or sparkling wine, like Prosecco!

£16 / 20cl / 40% ABV www.english­heritageshop.org.uk.

Our featured wines are available from local independent wine merchants, supermarkets and online, prices are RRP and may vary.

Intervention Divine

This month we’ll reveal how Robin Baxter Ayling transformed his methodist church, which dates back to 1907, into a spacious open plan home

In a less than pious era, when church congregations are shrinking in number, and when some of our most venerable examples of architecture languish, we’re always thrilled by the prospect of an intervention that turns an unloved building into something special. Built in 1907 at a cost of £4,000, Woodhall Spa’s Old Methodist Church remained in use as a place of worship, a meeting place, or a home to the military until the post-war era. Now though, it’s a newly refurbished and imaginative family home offering space and style.

To transform such a building into a modern home takes character and creativity. Fortunately Robin Baxter Ayling has both in abundance. Continuing to enjoy a career in the entertainment business and working with some pretty impressive names, Robin moved to Lincolnshire in 2002 and lived only 100 metres or so from the church, often admiring it as he walked into the village.

Having already renovated a property in Woodhall Spa, he was excited to see the property being offered for sale in 2018 and embarked on a refurbishment and conversion. Happily the roof had been replaced, but the place still necessitated new floors, new wiring, new plumbing... and a complete reimagining of property’s layout, including the reinstatement of a balcony, and the creation of a mezzanine level too.

Words: Rob Davis.

Located right on Woodhall Spa’s Broadway, the building has, somewhat surprisingly, escaped a Grade II listing, giving Robin a little more latitude when deciding on how to use the 5,900sq ft of space the church offers.

The property’s chunky doors open onto an inner hallway that spans the whole width of the property from west to east. Two sets of doors on either side of the hallway open to provide a big reveal of the property’s nave, with a timber lectern at the end and a splitreturn glass and timber staircase, inspired by Scarlet O’Hara in Gone with the Wind.

The more than double-height space features beams and carved ceiling, leading to a mezzanine first floor space. On the ground floor, there’s a dining room on the east side of the property and a kitchen to the west, whilst former choir stalls on either side have been converted into two ground floor bedrooms, each with an en suite. Behind the lectern is a pantry offering a decent amount of storage space, whilst the former vestry has been converted into a dedicated utility room, and boot room.

Just off the dining room is a cinema room, fully soundproofed, equipped with nine seats – including leopardskin cinema seats, rescued from Leicester Square’s Odeon – and a Dolby Atmos surround sound system with seven speakers.

On the first floor are two further bedrooms about the two downstairs, similarly sized and also providing an en suite bathroom each. The master bedroom is located at the north end of the building with a 2m diameter rose window with stained glass and stone mullions... and two gargoyles which, Rob says, both protect you as you sleep! The master bedroom also has a large en suite with two freestanding roll-top slipper baths, and a large dressing room on the opposite side of the property.

Welcome Home

On either side of the nave in the transept above the dining room and kitchen are areas ideal for use as studies or libraries, whilst the mezzanine atria provides entrance to the tower and provides a raised sitting area with natural light courtesy of a large (four metre) stained glass window. The kitchen is well-laid out too, with solid oak cabinetry, quartz work surfaces and range cooker.

Whilst undoubtedly stylish, the property is also very practical, with plenty of storage, modern fire and security systems and zoned underfloor heating. Outdoors there’s a private, enclosed courtyard with terrace that benefits from planning permission for a spacious sunroom.

“During the build people were really curious, so I maintained a sort of open

door policy to ensure the community could pop their head around the door and see the progress. Everyone was fascinated and it’s a property which has provided surprising flexibility in terms of how to use the space.”

“All year round the place maintains a comfortable temperature thanks to secondary glazing over the stained glass windows, underfloor heating and heat reclamation system which keeps the air circulating so it never feels stuffy. It’s light too, and there are amazing views from the narrow windows in the tower which we’ve converted into a little reading nook.”

“We’ve had some really great local tradespeople working on the church and we’re now really proud of it. It’s been an amazing home with lots of character and really versatile spaces.”

The Old Methodist Church, Woodhall

Location: Broadway in the centre of Woodhall Spa.

Provenance: Former methodist church dating back to 1907, recently converted into a spacious property with five bedrooms.

Rooms: Open plan layout including mezzanine areas for work or relaxing. Dedicated dining room, five beds, all with en suite. Cinema.

Guide Price: £950,000.

For details contact: Poyntons Consultancy, South St, Boston PE21 6HT, call 01205 361694 or see www.poyntons.com.

Devereux Way, Horncastle LN9 6AU

Tel: 01507 527113

W: www.peterjacksoncabinets.co.uk E: info@peterjacksoncabinets.co.uk

Peter Jackson Cabinet Makers Ltd

1. Sophie Allport speckles stoneware mixing bowl, £38, Stamford shop or online at www.sophieallport.com.

2. Nest 9 Blue Edition; easy-store nesting bakeware, by Joseph Joseph with mixing bowls, sieve, colander and measures, £60, www.josephjoseph.com.

3. KitchenAid’s interchangeable-battery system cordless hand mixer £179/inc battery; £149/without battery) and cordless hand blender, with extra whisk, goblet and mill/mini-chopper (not pictured), £219/inc battery; £189/without battery), see www.kitchenaid.co.uk.

4. KitchenAid Artisan stand mixer in Juniper (a new colour for 2024) 4.7l, with whisk, paddle and dough hook, £549/RRP, www.kitchenaid.co.uk.

5. Cake levelling wire for even tiers £5, www.johnlewis.com. .talacooking.com.

7. Sophie Allport Strawberries apron £26 and double oven glove, £26, Stamford shop or online at www.sophieallport.com.

8. Sophie Allport Bees cake stand, 30cm wide, £59.50, Stamford shop or online at www.sophieallport.com.

9. GreenPan bakeware, made without harmful PFAS chemicals. Ceramic, non-stick. Tins and sheets available, seen here is 24cm springform tin, £26, from John lewis and Lakeland.

10. Heston Blumenthal by Salter scales, dual-platform (0.1g increments, 200g max and 1g increments, 10kg max); weighs or measures liquids; add ‘n’ weigh function, £49.99, salter.com.

11. Joseph Joseph rolling pin with interchangeable caps to change rolling thickness from 2mm-10mm £20, josephjoseph.com.

12. Clever space-saving nesting bakeware set by Wilkinson, £20, www.kettleandtoasterman.co.uk.

• Drawings prepared for planning per mission and building regulation approval

• CGI Visualisations

• Tender Management

• Building and Project Management

• Interior Design, Fit Out and Decor ation

• Turnkey Services or ad-hoc from any stage..

• We work with you!

• Extensions, Renovations, New Build, Conversions, Listed Buildings…

•

& Commercial projects Under

• Tree Surgery & Felling

• Tree Reports

• BS 3998

• BS 5837

• Stump Grinding

• Site Clearance

• Hedge Cutting

• Council Approved

Contractor

• £10 Million Public Liability

• NPTC Qualified

• BSC Honours Landscape Ecology

• Professional Tree Inspection

• National Diploma in Forestry and Arboriculture

Renovations

‘The

New Master of Extreme Performance’ Defender Octa

It’s brand new, offering toughness, luxury and performance in equal measure, the £145,000 Defender Octa will make its appearance at the Burghley Horse Trials and the brand’s uncompromising flagship off-roader is guaranteed to attract crowds

The Defender has already proved itself to be highly desirable, unsurpassed off-road and surprisingly civilised on road. In 90 form it’s neat, in 110 form it’s spacious, and in 130 its a behemoth.

With a V8 engine under the bonnet, it’s already a stormer, but now there’s a new flagship performance version, the Octa, powered by the same BMW-sourced 4.4-litre V8 that also provides the grunt in the new Range Rover Sport SV Edition One.

In that vehicle, on-road performance was the sole aim. But a Defender must be able to perform off the beaten track too. Hence there’s equal attention afforded to the Octa’s abilities as an off-roader as to its remit as a performance car, with Land Rover keen to present the vehicle as the toughest, most luxurious performance Defender ever.

In the respect of performance, 60mph is reached in 3.8 seconds, the vehicle is limited to ‘just’ 155mph and its bespoke tyres have been created specifically for the vehicle’s dual role of storming performance and off-road prowess.

In respect of the latter, the Octa rides 28mm higher and has a 68mm wider stance than other Defenders. Its brakes have been uprated to 400mm with Brembo calipers, and there’s an all-new bespoke 6D dynamics suspension system bespoke to the car which utilises heavily reworked chassis components, with pitch and roll control, and a unique Octa mode which is designed to allow you to drive aggressively on rough and slippery surfaces. The car will also wade through water a metre deep, compared to the standard air-sprung Defender’s 900mm.

Bespoke bumpers increase the car’s approach and departure angles, whilst some beefed-up underbody protection helps to protect the car too. Unique colourways are available on the Octa, including this Faroe Green, exclusive to an Edition One launch version with gloss black highlights. Inside the car has unique performance seats which integrate a Body

and Soul System (BOSS) to provide enhanced bass for the stereo system, and those same seats are upholstered as standard in bespoke Burnt Sienna semi-aniline leather or Kvadrat, a vegan alternative.

The interior also features recycled ‘chopped carbon’ metal trim which, as you’d expect, is very muscular looking and tactile.

Undoubtedly the Octa is an impressive feat of engineering. Our concern is whether you’ll ever come close to utilising its enhanced dynamic abilities over the already impressive standard car. Still, as a stylish and desirable flagship, Octa is wild... and wonderful.

The Details

Land Rover Defender Octa

Price £145,300 (Octa). £160,800 (Edition One).

Powertrain: 4.4­litre Twin Turbo V8, mild hybrid, 635ps, 750Nm torque. Eight speed auto, range with low range.

Performance: 155mph top speed, 0­60mph 3.8 seconds.

Equipment: 6D Dynamics, BOSS seats, chopped carbon detailing, 22in wheels.

Ineos at Chandlers

Commercial Grenadier means business

Reclaim your VAT and enjoy low BIK, whilst towing 3.5 tonnes... all whilst carrying a Euro pallet off the beaten track! Phew!

When it launched in late 2022, the Ineos Grenadier set the benchmark for the scope of a serious off-road vehicle. Now, the range is expanding with a version for commercial users engineered to last a lifetime on farms, in forestry and on country estates.

The Ineos Grenadier Commercial is available from £51,931... and it really means business.

Classified as a Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV), its two-seater cab positions the driver in front of a rugged bulkhead and flat cargo space capable of taking a Euro pallet (1,200mm x 800mm).

The petrol version can accommodate payloads of up to 835kg, and the vehicle can also tow 3.5 tonnes and winch 5.5 tonnes.

Hewn from pure capability, the vehicle, created by Ineos’s Jim Ratcliffe, utilises

BMW’s six-cylinder engines with either petrol or diesel power mated to a heavy duty eight-speed ZF automatic transmission. Meanwhile a two-speed transfer case, diff locks, ladder-frame construction and heavy duty coil suspension provide an unsurpassed breadth of capability off-road.

As an LCV the vehicle enables business users to reclaim all of the VAT back on their purchase and enjoy lower BIK rates.

Separately, the Grenadier is available as a Quartermaster pick-up variant from £66,230 with an open bed measuring 1,564mm long by 1,619mm and five seats.

Built to perform, engineered to last and created to satisfy serious off-roading, towing or load carrying, Ineos means business and will rise to the most demanding challenge.

The Details

Ineos Grenadier Commercial

Price: From £51,931 + VAT.

Powertrain: BMW­sourced 3.0 straight­six twin­turbo engine, mated to ZF eight­speed automatic gearbox with full­time 4x4 and diff locks.

Petrol: 286ps/450Nm, 19.6mpg. Diesel: 249ps/550Nm, 26.9mpg. 2,000 litres load space, for a Euro palletsized payload. 3.5 tonne braked towing capacity, 5.5 tonnes winching power.

Chandlers of Belton and Horncastle is one of just 24 Ineos partners in the UK. For more information about the Grenadier, call 01476 590077 or 01507 527211.

Burghley Style

This month, as well as world-class riding skills, Defender Burghley Horse Trials will provide the opportunity to shop for stylish outdoor wear with over 600 trade stands featuring names like Holland Cooper

via www.hollandcooper.com.

Opposite: One­size waterproof coat in khaki, £249. Top left: Team gilet in khaki, £179. Top right: The Competition jacket in midnight black, £229. Above left: Tweed riding jacket in glen green, £399. Above right: Newbury long sleeve base layer in white, £89; Bolesworth thermal competition breeches, £149; Heritage Belt, £65. All available at this year’s Defender Burghley Horse Trials, or

Rolex at Hugh Rice

Hugh Rice Celebrates

Rolex Pre-Owned Certification Programme

Hugh Rice is thrilled to announce they have recently become part of the Rolex Certified Pre-Owned programme, which allows clients to purchase authentic previously owned models

Launched by Rolex in December 2022, the company’s Certified Pre-Owned programme, programme applies exclusively to watches that are at least three years old and have received no modifications except those made by the brand itself.

These models come with a new two-year international guarantee and are fully certified and guaranteed by Rolex. The collection will be launching in the Hull St Stephen’s store and online. The Rolex Certified Pre-Owned programme’s aim is to bring added value to the existing supply of pre-owned Rolex watches. Built to last, Rolex watches often live several lives and change hands – at this point their authenticity must be attestable at the time of resale by Hugh Rice.

The programme guarantees that these watches benefit from the quality criteria inherent to all Rolex products and from the

full know-how and professionalism of the brand’s worldwide network of experts.

The Hull showroom houses a Rolex Authorised Service Centre, meaning preowned watches can be serviced in-house, which meets the exceptional standards a Rolex watch requires. The showroom now also features a dedicated Rolex Certified PreOwned area and a specialist Manager, Max Rice, who will be on hand to help clients browse the models available.

Paul Rice, Managing Director at Hugh Rice, said: “We are delighted to have become a part of the Rolex Certified Pre-Owned programme, providing our customers with an immediate opportunity to secure a certified Rolex watch.”

“Customers can benefit from peace of mind knowing the Rolex timepiece is certified as authentic by the brand itself,” Paul continued.

“Hugh Rice are hugely proud of this exciting new partnership and offering to our clients. We are continually adding to our certified timepiece collection, which is now visible to the public in our Hull showroom.”

Rolex advocates the durability of its products. Thanks to uncompromising quality standards, the brand produces watches with the longest possible lifespans.

It therefore wishes to accompany the second life of its watches already circulating on the market, with a view to preserving, maintaining and guaranteeing what already exists. This approach is in keeping with the Perpetual philosophy: the relentless pursuit of excellence and a long-term commitment to future generations.

To explore the Rolex Certified Pre-Owned collection at Hugh Rice, visit the Hull Street Stephen’s showroom or www.hughrice.co.uk.

Hugh Rice of Hull is based at St. Stephens Shopping Centre, Hull, East Yorkshire, HU2 8LN Telephone: 01482 329449, Alternatively you can shop online at www.hughrice.co.uk.

Hugh Rice Hull, Rolex.

Hugh Rice Hull, Rolex.

The Private Dental Centre

Going That Extra Mile

The point of difference that has made Boston’s Private Dental Centre really stand out as the independent practice celebrates its 20th anniversary

A commitment to care has been the point of difference that has ensured Boston’s Private Dental Centre has really stood out over the past 20 years. This year the team is celebrating its achievements bringing new team members, new technology and a new approach to dentistry, changing the perception of the profession over the past couple of decades.

A better experience

“Dentistry, as you once knew it, has all but disappeared and in its place is a new profession which is more welcoming, more user-friendly, an overall better experience than before. And we’ve been among the leaders in our area in ensuring that,” says Kenny Doig. “The days of clinical-looking reception areas and the scent of strong disinfectant have been replaced by a more welcoming environment with original artwork on the walls, scented candles and complimentary tea and coffee offered whilst you wait.”

“It’s not just a case of making the experience more luxurious, but a way of setting our patients at ease. It’s really important to us that people don’t view a visit to the dentist as a chore or something to fear.”

“We’re keen that people feel comfortable visiting their dentist because as well as the obvious benefits of a healthier mouth and a more confident smile, teeth and gums are a window into your general health. They’re able to provide an early warning about conditions such as diabetes and circulatory disease. Generally, healthy teeth and gums are a good barometer as to your general health.”

Consistent care

“Putting our patients at ease means they’re more likely to keep up with regular visits for routine care.”

“We provide a number of tailored treatment plans where ongoing care can be provided by more highly-qualified dental therapists, who also provide hygienist procedures and work to provide proactive care to mitigate the need for treatment in the future.”

“Mitigating the need for remedial treatment, ensuring better overall oral health, and ensuring a better experience over successive visits to the practice changes the mindset of our patients. And with sound overall health, as well as faith in our team and our practice, a patient can then opt for any elective treatments if they wish.”

A confident smile

“We’ve invested wisely in digital dentistry, from digital x-rays to CT scans stored on the system which enables us to track longitudinal changes in oral health. Once we can satisfy ourselves that a patient’s oral health is sound, we’ve treatments from professional teeth whitening services to crowns, implants and veneers. Again, an investment in technology allows us to take 3D scans of the mouth to ensure any veneers or crowns we create fit comfortably and realistically, with submillimetre accuracy.”

“Meanwhile our Invisalign affiliation enables us to provide a way of realigning teeth for a more confident smile and to ensure it’s easier to reach every part of your teeth and gums as you brush.”

A youthful look

“Alongside our cosmetic dentistry specialism, we’ve recently started to offer broader treatments in our clinical environment, such as facial aesthetics including injectable treatments like botulinum-based treatments for fine lines & wrinkles, and Juvéderm dermal fillers. We offer our patients the reassurance of a CQC-registered professional

environment and fully-trained experienced clinicians to provide peace of mind compared to High Street practitioners.”

Part of the community

“We’re grateful for the professional relationship that we enjoy with our patients and proud of our reputation in the area, so we’re always keen to give back to the community and provide care in other countries; offering healthcare through time and fundraising efforts.”

“Recently we’ve been into schools to provide oral healthcare screening and we will host a Macmillan Coffee Morning on 26th September with our team baking cakes for our patients… after all, the odd sweet treat is OK, in moderation!”

“In August 2022 I embarked on a charity trek to Kilimanjaro, and followed that up earlier this year with a trek to Everest Base Camp.”

“My colleague Dr Kelly Chambers also shares my sense of adventure and has recently left for a two-week secondment in Malawi with Dentaid, the dental charity which brings dental care and training to countries overseas.”

“Our newest members of the team include Kelly, Dr Ciro Baretto and three new dental nurses, helping to see patients promptly and offer them the time and attention they need.”

“We’re fortunate to have established a practice that’s able to form good relationships with the community and support our patients throughout their lives.”

“Dentistry is a fascinating profession, and a lot has changed in 20 years in terms of technology and making treatments shorter and more comfortable. What hasn’t changed, though, is our determination to put the patient first and to offer the very best service for our patients, redefining what everyone should expect from dental care.”

The Private Dental Centre is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2024. Based on Rosebery Avenue, Boston, the Centre is now inviting the registration of new patients. Call 01205 352892 or see www.theprivatedentalcentre.co.uk.

Purveyors of Luxury Eyewear

Since 1979

PORSCHE DESIGN a collection in stock now.

43/44 Wrawby Street, Brigg, North Lincolnshire DN20 8BS

Tel: 01652 653595. Web: www.obriensopticians.co.uk Call for an appointment or pop in to view our latest designer eyewear

Struggling with Menopausal Symptoms?

Reclaim control of your health and hormones with the help of a trained Women’s Health Expert. Understand WHY you gain weight and lose your “zest for life” and learn why STRESS, SLEEP, NUTRITION and the right type of EXERCISE for you can give you back control of your life.

Please visit www.lincolnshiremenopauseclinic.co.uk to book your free non obligation telephone consultation.

For Your Relaxation, Revitalisation, Recovery and for Your Holistic Health

Advanced Skin Treatments ~ Relaxing Facials ~ Semi-Permanent Makeup ~ Re exology ~ Reiki ~ Sports Injury Massage ~ Nurse Practitioner Clinics including B12 Injections, Ear Syringing, Hayfever Injections and Aesthetic Treatments such as Dermal Fillers, Wrinkle Relaxers, Skin Boosters and much more...

Tattershall Thorpe, LN4 4PL 01526 342696 www.therelaxationstudio.co.uk

A Close Shave Cosmetics

Turn a daily chore into an enjoyable ritual with quality products for gentlemen all designed to the highest standard and with sublime fragrances too

Classical elegance from Penhaligon’s

The namesake of this male fragrance is Zeus’s most handsome son and the moon god, who spent his life in perpetual sleep. Sweet and softly masculine, a fusion of citrus, spices and leather.

£135/100ml, EDC £175/100ml EDP, Soap, deodorant, hand wash and lotion also available. www.penhaligons.com.

A stylish shave from Bolin Webb

Clarins Line Control

Clarins Men is a great range of skincare products for everyday use. Its moisture balms are a particular highlight and this example lifts and firms, keeping fine lines in check, £42.50/50ml, www.clarins.co.uk.

Kiehl’s Eye Fuel

A lightweight eye cream to reduce puffiness and dark circles and to revive tired­looking eyes. Cool and refreshing in summer, with caffeine and Vitamin B3, £31/15ml, www.kiehls.co.uk.

Neal’s Yard Body Wash

Turn a daily routine into an invigorating treat with this certified organic hair and body wash, with bergamot, and grapefruit, with citrus top notes and woody base, £15/200ml, www.nealsyardremedies.com.

Elevate your daily shave with Bolin Webb, based in Stamford. The company’s Generation Razor is shown here in blue, but is also available in graphite and red. Uses readily available GilletteFusion5 blades, design­led handle is precision­engineer from shot­blasted aluminium, £65 from www.bolinwebb.com.

Murdock of London’s quality shaving cream

This indulgent shaving cream for men cushions your razor for a luxurious, close shave. Mallow extract softens and soothes for comfortable, smooth skin. Ideal for sensitive skin. The company’s range also includes pre­shave oil, ingrown hair treatment and a special edition Bolin Webb razor, £36/200ml, from murdocklondon.com

All our beauty products are available from local independent stockists unless otherwise stated, note that prices stated are RRP and may vary.

Perfect to Me

This month a familiar face helps a Boston couple to celebrate their wedding at Woodhall Spa’s Petwood Hotel, an entertaining day of fun and celebrations

Images: Jessy Jones Photography, 07947 514456, www.jessyjonesphotography.co.uk

Kudos to this month’s groom, Josh, who took a keen interest in helping to plan his wedding and ensure a few surprises on the day for bride-to-be, Leigh... including a cameo appearance from her favourite singer.

The couple’s romance appears to be solar-powered, as a summer barbecue in August 2019 saw the two first meet when Leigh stood on Josh’s foot, apologising and then recognising the immediate spark... well worth a bruised big toe, we reckon.

Their romance began immediately and when enjoying yet more sunshine

on a holiday to Jamaica, Leigh had a sneaking suspicion that a proposal was forthcoming... but Josh likes to keep things interesting and instead waited until a following holiday in Australia before popping the question on one knee on a pristine beach in Perth, having coaxed a reluctant Leigh out of the water.

“It was really beautiful, I just turned around and he was on one knee, it was very romantic, so perfect.”

The couple intended a modest wedding as they’re planning a move to Australia in the future, but with both

determined to plan a celebration that family and friends would enjoy, and having discovered Woodhall’s Petwood Hotel, the day quickly escalated into an all-out celebration of love.

“From the first time we saw it we thought The Petwood was amazing,” says Leigh. “The rhododendrons were out, the sun was shining and the whole place looked stunning.”

It was the first element of the wedding that the couple booked, but Josh was already working hard in secret to secure an appearance by Ed Sheeran act Kieran Nicholl, as the singer is Leigh’s favourite music artist.

Weddings

Next, Leigh found her wedding dress at Cleethorpes’ Naomi Bridal Boutique, a strapless Enzoani gown with mermaid skirt. Best friend and Maid of Honour Leanne Hewerdine styled Leigh’s hair whilst Jessica Willerton was the bridal party’s makeup artist. The groom’s opted for tailoring by Cavani and bridesmaids dresses were from online retailer Asos in blush pink.

“I wasn’t sure what the entertainment was, until someone said ‘Ed Sheeran’s here!’ and as I began walking down the aisle, he performed Perfect, in the most amazingly accurate way. Josh did really well to secure him as he never performs at weddings, he’s usually appearing as a support act, singing to an audience of thousands.”

Josh also secured singing waiters who served the wedding breakfast and then, faking a stumble and a calamity, burst unexpectedly into song to the absolutely roaring delight of guests.

Other entertainment included 360 Lincolnshire’s photo booth, table magician Duncan Williams and a nine-hole crazy golf course courtesy of Par-Tee events.

Boston’s Events Exquisite provided beautiful wedding floristry, whilst Lincoln-based Dad’s Little Kitchen created a three-tier cake with lemon, raspberry & vanilla and (just for Josh) chocolate orange sponge layers.

“I’d met Jessy Jones, our photographer, eight years ago, and there was nobody else I wanted to photograph our day.

Jessy took pictures for our engagement shoot too and was she amazing on our wedding day, capturing a real reflection of the day, with so many smiles and so much laughter. She was so easy to work with and so lovely. Jessy recommended our videographer Lauren Baker Productions too.”

“Both were amazing and worked to ensure we’ve really lovely memories of a fun, happy, very special day!”

Local Suppliers

Wedding Venue: The Petwood Hotel, Woodhall Spa, 01526 352411, www.petwood.co.uk.

Wedding Dress: Enzoani at naomibridalboutique.co.uk.

Hair: @hairbyleannehewerdine.

Makeup Artist: www.jessicas­makeup.co.uk

Photography: Jessy Jones Photography, 07947 514456, www.jessyjonesphotography.co.uk.

Videographer: www.laurabakerproductions.com.

Floristry: 07508 174526, www.eventexquisite.co.uk.

Wedding Cake: instagram.com/dadslittlekitchen. Ed Sheeran: www.kieranasedsheeran.co.uk.

Singers: Silver Service Singing Waiters 01744 347357

Photobooth: Saul Woods & James Relf, 07877 157933.

Lincolnshire Pride and its sister magazines, Rutland Pride and Stamford Pride, are each delivered free of charge to high value homes in the area, which means we are the only county magazines which can guarantee a wealthy, discerning readership

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