AH WE can mark the time of year as we turn the wheel again as the sun returns to our hemisphere and brings its light and warmth on the land. Chatting with one of the stallholders on Saturday and we both agreed that the wonder of the spring and all it brings is always a surprise and experienced as if for the first time every year; the winter is of such a length that it erases any memory of a light warm day!

Unfortunately we must rest in the early season hungry gap a little longer, drawing our nourishment from the hardy greens like purple sprouting and kale and the stored roots and potatoes until the new season commences. There is some early rhubarb at Styan’s at the moment and Coleshill have greenhouse grown organic salad leaves but on the whole we’ll have to hang on a little longer.

Of course it is Mother’s Day this Sunday so I’m delighted that we have a great selection of nice ideas for a small gift. Obviously the gift of food is never wasted but Aside from one of the finest selection of Artisan foods in the region we also have a wide range of non-edibles.

Starting at the market this week is new soap business College Green from Randwick. There’s a beautifully scented Rose Geranium soap, a zesty Lime & Grapefruit, Lavender & Patchouli with goats milk which is great for mature skin, an unscented Mild & Gentle Buttermilk soap and for a unique gift with a very local connection, there’s a soap made with Stroud Brewery beer. Any of the soaps would make a perfect Mother’s Day gift.

Elsewhere Julian Harvard’s daffodil and narcissi bunches are delightful and Ascott Gardens will have fresh and dried flowers too.

There will be lots of planted bulbs and spring flower pots at Pat’s Plants, pottery from Dorcas De Marco, Claire Powell and James Hazelgrove, Ye Green Men’s fused glass, NG Leather and Cymbal knits are all there as well as skin care from Herbs for Healing and Kalya.

I wasn’t going to mention the phenomenal cake and brownie selection this week but I’ve just heard Nom Nom will be bringing multi coloured macaroons with either buttercream or chocolate ganache filling!