WOOLLY hats were in evidence last week and after a couple of frosty mornings if you look at the trees we can definitely say we have changed seasons at last!

Yes folks, it’s the winter and for the next few months you will notice the stallholders wearing a lot more clothes and undoubtedly an amusing array of head wear!

The markets are looking truly fabulous for the coming months up to our post-Christmas break. Each and every farmers’ market Saturday will be rammed with stalls and although it might have been deemed hard to improve the market I must say I’m delighted with the quality of the new stalls that joined us recently and their great product lines have expanded our range once more.

We are also fully booked for the Goodwill Evening market which takes place on Friday, December 1, this year and our three ‘Finish Your Christmas Shopping in Stroud’ gift markets (from Wednesday, December 20, to Friday, December 22) are also boasting lots of bookings with a fab range of stalls at each one.

The last farmers’ market of the year takes place on Saturday, December 23.

This week’s highlights include four of our new Stroud based stalls; Stroud Smokehouse, Asparagasm vegan cheeses and Salt Bakehouse featuring down Union street plus Woodchester Valley Vineyard up Union Street. Ori, The Artisan Baker, should be back after a knee op and Coleshill Organic’s Sonia should be back from a two week break in India.

You may feel it is a bit early for Christmas shopping but we have an absolutely fabulous range at the market this week; potters Ann Sohn-Rethel, Ascott Gardens, As the Crows Fly and James Hazelgrove; knitted socks etc from Cymbal Knits; Chopping boards from Woodchester Cabinet Makers; Ye Green Men fused glass; NG Leather goods; Cashoo felted sleeves and beeswax candles at Painswick honey. Add to this the range of stalls in the Flea market where Sheep n Chic, Gardenalia, Bardot Living and new stall Bec’s Shabby Chic House will all be offering their ranges and you can see why I suggest a bit of early present hunting.