THIS Saturday we see the return of Simon Weaver’s Cheeses to the market for their monthly stall, where they sell their tremendous range of organic Brie cheeses.

The Weavers have been farming in the Cotswolds for the past three generations and in the South West of England since before 1570.

They proudly follow a traditional method of organic farming and place great store in caring for the land and animal welfare.

Their closed organic herd (which means they only have cattle born and bred from the herd on the farm) enjoy a forage-based diet, and their milk production is not forced.

They know that if their ‘girls’ are happy, the cheeses will taste great too.

The farm is ideally suited for growing grass and so grazing and during the spring and summer the clover-sown meadows deliver all their promise.

Bordered by the River Dikler, the Fosse Way and the village of Lower Slaughter, the land is made up of low-lying river meadows that have never been intensively farmed. On the higher ground, nitrogen-rich clover-sown meadows create ideal grazing conditions for the winter months.

The herdsman, Richard, has spent his entire life working with cattle, with over 42 years’ experience in the field.

After the milk has travelled just five meters from the milking shed to the creamery, the cheesemaking process begins in earnest at 6.30am.

Skilled cheesemakers then work quickly within a four-hour period to produce a batch of 1,200 cheeses from the 1,500 liters of milk the cows have generated.

The exact recipes for the individual cheeses are a closely guarded secret – but we can let you know that they are entirely natural and contain just pasteurised milk, rennet and the appropriate cultures.

No preservatives or artificial additives are needed, and they don’t mess with the milk by standardising it.

This means that the cheeses vary in taste and texture, depending upon which meadow the cows graze and the time of year.

Elsewhere at the market this week we have Sibling Distillery gin, Tubby Tom’s barbecue sauces, Nifty Nut Butters, loads of soft fruits and Newark Farm Organic veg returning.