The start of this month was Imbolc, the traditional Gaelic festival marking the beginning of spring.

It is about halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, as the very first hopeful signs that life will start to return from winters grip start to emerge.

And although it’s still very wet here, and the chance of snow is far from over, this mild winter has already encouraged the first signs of rebirth at The Secret Acre.

Our potatoes are on the chitting on the shelf (the delicious Pink Fir Apples again after last year’s success with them), our crocuses are out under the apple tree, and of course the snowdrops are out too in force along the hedgerows.

So we raised a glass to Imbolc, and perhaps the warmth of the sun will slowly return to us again.