Features

Independent businesses, whether they be shops, restaurants, salons or gyms, are the lifeblood of any town centre. Statistics show that for every £1 spent at an independent retailer, between 50p and 70p goes back into the local economy. On July 4, independents in Spalding and across South Holland will be inviting customers to support them for this year’s Independents’ Day ...

Alan Hardwick is Police and Crime Commissioner for Lincolnshire. The first person to be appointed to the role, he will mark three years in the job in November. He says: “I am determined to be a strong and fair leader of Lincolnshire Police. I will fight for a better deal for the county that will help us continue to effectively fight crime. ...

As summer hots up, there can be nothing nicer than throwing a tasty sausage or two on the barbecue and eating outdoors with family and friends. But food poisoning cases double over the summer, so remember these simple steps to help keep food safe. Food poisoning is usually mild, and most people get better within a week. But sometimes it ...

Age UK has joined a fight for a “best practice protocol” to give older people a better chance of finding work. The charity which champions older people is partnering with the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) in a campaign to fight age discrimination in recruitment. With four out of ten unemployed older workers out of work for more than a ...

Checking your vehicle before setting off on a summer journey is by far the best way to make sure that your trip to the seaside doesn’t turn into a disappointing trip to a hardshoulder or lay-by. During periods of hot weather the RAC often experiences a 20 per cent increase in call-outs and this can even get as high as ...

New research just released by Saga to coincide with adult learners’ week reveals that older learners still have a thirst for knowledge and self-improvement. Seven in ten (71 per cent) of those that have taken a course over the past five years have done so to improve their skills, and with many over 50s now working well into their late ...

Hills Department Store is Spalding’s largest independent retailer. Bought by the Turner family in the 1950s, the company originally traded from Market Place in the unit now occupied by Lloyds Pharmacy. The current Broad Street location was purchased in the 1970s and today has more than 12,000sq ft of shopfloor space and employs over 50 local people. Main departments are ...

When it comes to keeping bugs and diseases away from your vegetable crops, nature provides an army of little helpers to make the job that little bit easier. There are plenty of ways in which you can work with nature to help cultivate your crops successfully. For example, you can plant basil next to tomatoes to help ward off whitefly ...

Here are some top tips for encouraging wildlife into your garden Make space for water A pond (without fish) will support a wide range of animals and provide a place for amphibians and dragonflies to breed. If a pond is not practical, go for a bird bath or pebble fountain to provide drinking water. Leave perennials uncut until the spring ...

Providing a home from home where youngsters can feel safe and happy is the key to the success of Munchkins Kindergarten. The setting, based at St Peter’s Lodge, a converted house in Priory Road, Spalding, caters for youngsters aged from six weeks up to eight years and is the holder of the healthy childcare award and has a “good” Ofsted ...

People are being encouraged to talk about dying at a series of coffee mornings in funeral homes. Lincolnshire Co-op is holding a series of events as part of Dying Matters Awareness Week, from May 18 to 24, which aims to raise issues surrounding the end of life. The theme, “Talk, Plan, Live”, highlights that we only get one chance to ...

As soon as your car is involved in an accident you need to take the following steps, regardless of who was at fault. If you are involved in a road-traffic accident as a driver and one or more of the following occurs: a person, other than yourself, is injured damage is caused to another vehicle or to someone else’s property ...

As bulbs fade and herbaceous borders grow in leaps and bounds, it is now clear that summer is approaching. Sowing and planting out bedding can begin, depending on regional weather variations, and you can take softwood cuttings. It’s also time to get back into the lawn mowing regime, as the lawn will be loving the warmer temperatures this month brings. ...

Today is St George’s Day – England’s national day and a day to celebrate what is great about England. But how much do you really know about St George, the patron saint of England? St George’s emblem, a red cross on a white background, is the flag of England, and part of the British flag. St George’s emblem was adopted ...

Is plant stress capping yields? This is a question often raised when discussing the use of bio-stimulants in crop production. It is known that stress is a major yield robber but it’s difficult to quantify by how much. Generally the healthier a plant is its ability to fight off infection is greatly improved which can result in lower usage of ...

Commercial vehicles and their contents are rich pickings for thieves and vandals so security should be a key concern. Wherever you park your van, its security features and van insurance are all things that should be uppermost in your mind as a van owner. Whether you’re buying a new van or looking to upgrade security on your current van, the ...

Why should I have my saddle checked? Having your saddle fitted is an important part of horse ownership. An ill-fitting saddles can cause no end of issues, both physical as well as behavioural. Has your horse started bucking, napping or rearing recently? Has he started to stop out jumping? Does he throw his head up in the air on upward ...

Consumers are being reminded that when it comes to buying their meat the #butcherisbetter! Butchers throughout the UK are gearing up for National Butchers Week (March 23-29), which aims to celebrate everything that is great about the high street butcher, reinforcing the fact that butchers remain the number one choice for range, service and convenience when it comes to purchasing ...

All three and four-year-olds in England are entitled to 570 hours of free early education or childcare a year. This is often taken as 15 hours each week for 38 weeks of the year. Some two-year-olds are also eligible. You can start claiming after your child turns three. The date you can claim will depend on when their birthday is. ...

Children’s happiness and safety are the be all and end all at one of the area’s newest pre-schools. Little Stars opened in September, but has already forged strong links with Surfleet Primary School, where it is located, to ensure a smooth transition to “big school” for its pre-schoolers. The pre-school occupies a mobile classroom within the grounds of the school ...