The Rectory Paddock

The Rectory Paddock Winner of The Community Award at Lincolnshire Environmental Awards 2018

‘It was 20 years ago today’, that Market Deeping Town Council bought The Glebe Field in order to prevent house building between our main green area and the church. It included a small piece of neglected field. Here’s what happened next…

After creating a small pond, it became neglected, overgrown and had inappropriate non-native planting. Waste was dumped on the field. A youth group working in The Spinney offered to clear the pond. Getting mud covered was seen as a plus! Over two hundred cans and bottles were retrieved. Clearly some renovation was needed.

A wildlife pond and a meadow full of wildflowers was the aim. A volunteer team was set up, working with Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust to lay hedges, sow and plant wild flowers and enlarge the pond. 200 trays of wildflowers were home-grown. The Council bought seeds too, particularly Yellow Rattle, essential for a healthy Pyramid Orchid

meadow. We knew we were on the right track when Vipers Bugloss, a stunning blue flower, was spotted last year. This summer, we found our first Pyramid orchids. Taking five years to germinate, they’re a long time coming! Another rare flower, Grass Vetchling, has also been identified. These scarce flowers need hard work to prevent their loss from our countryside.

With birds, insects and wild animals like hedgehogs becoming endangered, we successfully developed a range of environments, encouraging as much wildlife as possible.

With many plans coming to fruition, the Town Clerk entered the Spinney and Paddock project into the Lincolnshire Environment Awards, Community Project section. We began a nail biting circuit of initial statements and a site visit by the judges after which we learned our entry had made the top three!

Nerves intensified because a presentation had to be made to the judges and all the other Environment Award hopefuls at a hotel in Lincoln. Supported by volunteer team members, I had 8 minutes to convince the panel that we deserved to win. It was then we discovered that the President of the Awards was the one and only David Bellamy! Suddenly it was getting serious…

We had to return that evening for a dinner and presentation of the awards, believing that the Sleaford river project had won. You can imagine our delight when – after one of those pauses – we heard “The winner is the Spinney and Paddock project!”

The award is a rather nice lump of engraved glass. The Council is also entitled to display the Award logo on its letterhead but really, the best thing is that Market Deeping and its people have this magical green space in which to breathe, slow down and wonder.

Roy Stephenson

Our 9th Anniversary saw our team dressed in outfits from various eras including 1950’s, 1920’s and the 70’s & 80’s. The Beauty Retreat Team would like to thank all our clients for the support we have had over the years and look forward to welcoming everyone in our 10th year!

Look out on our facebook page for new treatments, products and offers and any last minute appointment availability!

We look forward to treating you very soon

Book your appointment today 01778 380840 www.thebeauty-retreat.co.uk 122 Church Street, Market Deeping

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Food

Is your dog a carnivore or omnivore? The domestic dog is a member of the Genus Canis (canines), which forms part of the wolf-like canids. The closest living relative of the dog is the grey wolf. Research supports dogs have a natural and undeniable carnivorous bias.

When choosing your dog’s food, it can feel like a minefield. What should my dog eat? What ingredients can contribute to aliments and long-term health issues? Grain what’s that all about? If we start by looking at the biology of a dog they are equipped with canines and their jaw works in a chopping motion which means the jaw can only move up and down and not side to side like an herbivore which in turn makes them perfectly designed for cutting meat. Furthermore, a shorter digestive track enables them to deal with raw meats in a way we couldn’t. Protein is a cause for debate, what matters most is the protein source rather than how much. When looking at foods a dog requires a good quality meat based protein source and not plant based such as pea protein. High cereal based foods are a cheaper way for manufacturers to bulk out their food. This normally means the meat content and quality is comprised quite often in the form of derivatives. Many are also not a ‘fixed formula’ which means every bag can contain different ingredients. Cereals in dog food are a filler, the price initially may seem cheaper you end up feeding more (due to the cereals not being utilised by their bodies). They can also be converted to excess energy as the body tries to digest them causing a hyperactive pooch. What goes in must come out and as a result a high cereal based diet contributes to more poo’s, yeasty smelling dogs, bad breath, skin conditions, paw licking, ear issues and excessive scratching. Many of these can be drastically improved by feeding a different food. Grain Free foods are increasing in popularity due to the higher meat contents, most are made with sweet potato which is a slow release carbohydrate keeping your pets feeling fuller for longer. Seven Grain Free is a very cost effective food with at least 50% animal protein, Omega 3 & 6, Hypoallergenic and a gentle makeup of natural botanicals. A 12kg sack costs just £42.99 which means feeding better doesn’t have to cost the earth. A sack would last a 20kg dog for 48 days! Have a read of the ingredients in your food, you might be surprised what is in there…. We stock a great range of grain free foods and treats for dogs and cats too. Nutriment Raw is another amazing alternative. As always we offer genuine, unbiased advice. We are all passionate about pets and a more natural approach to feeding. We love to chat so pop in anytime and see if we can help.