Nub News editor Paula Spenceley takes a closer look at buying gifts – and why keeping your gift shopping local is more of a pleasure than a chore.

JUST a few weeks ago I did something that many of us may have done at some point – I found myself desperately popping a voucher for a well-known online shopping giant into a birthday card and feeling as though I hadn't made quite enough effort.

The Covid-19 pandemic hasn't helped much, of course, but if I'm honest there's always been a few birthdays and special occasions here and there where I've run out of time or even just clean forgotten until the eleventh hour – and sometimes beyond.

Perhaps it's partly because making a special trip or taking time out of a busy schedule to buy a gift can seem difficult or unappealing. The question is, when we live or work in somewhere with town centres and shops as beautiful as those in Maldon district, is it really such a chore?

With this in mind – and with the strong desire to support the High Streets, town centres and independent businesses that are so central to our communities, I decided to look a little closer at the possibilities in our two towns, Maldon and Burnham-on-Crouch.

Whoever it is you're buying for the first thing is probably to get into the spirit of it – and if you're short of time, what better way to do that than use what precious time you have to make the trip enjoyable? And how much more enjoyable can shopping be than in one of those two beautiful places, where you're spoilt for choice with places to eat and drink in quaint, vibrant surroundings and a galaxy of independent shops. It's not just a shopping trip, it's a day out – especially if you meet a friend or family member.

Once I start to look, I quickly realise there isn't much our towns can't offer. A walk from one end of Maldon High Street to the other with a focus on gifting leaves me wondering how, when I go there so often, I hadn't noticed the choice before.

If you join me in this for a few minutes and think it through - and if you know the High Street well and imagine the walk with me - I'm sure you will come to the same conclusion.

There's not just the main thoroughfare, but the pretty courtyards and arcades leading off from both sides of the road, right now decked out for summer and looking especially appealing.

Unique and beautifully crafted jewellery, women's accessories, an amazing independent bookshop, eco gifts, crystals, beautifully scented candles, toys for babies and young children, hand-painted and created gifts for the home, personalised gifts, gardening gifts, sweets and chocolates, toiletries, bespoke cakes and bakes, socks, ties, cosmetics and hair treatments, and of course fashion for men, women, children, babies. I'm sure there will be something I missed there.

Burnham-On-Crouch

The idea of the shopping trip as a morning, afternoon, lunch or even whole day out is also one that fits very well with Burnham-on-Crouch. Though smaller than Maldon, a short exploration reveals a great deal of choice. First of all, the choice places to eat and drink, whether by the glorious riverside or in the picturesque town, is almost bewildering.

The town is both buzzing with all the waterside activity and yet has a tranquil, laid-back feel to it, too.

And again, there's more choice than you might otherwise imagine until you take that walk. There's an array of locally-produced gifts from jewellery to scented candles, food and treat gifts, women's accessories, fashion, children's gifts, gifts for the home, cosmetics and spectacular artwork, too – in fact, one thing Burnham-on-Crouch is definitely known for is its local art and crafts.

With this article, Allison Gray, chair of Maldon Business Board and owner of Willow & Fox, has given her account of why shopping in Maldon has always felt like a treat – and she makes some great points.

You can also check out the Visit Maldon District website for some more great shopping ideas, with lists and contact details of many local independent businesses, too – just take a look at the link here.

And if ever you can't get to the shops in person for any reason…

Maldon District Council (MDC), in partnership with Click It Local, is helping to support independent retailers across the district.

Click It Local provides residents with the chance to shop online from a great range of local traders across Maldon district. What's more, shoppers can shop at different shops with the ease of one payment and same-day delivery straight to their door.

Now there's a chance to get £5 off your next Click It Local Maldon district shopping spend with the code 5OFFMALDON. The code is valid until the end of June. You can browse the selection by visiting the Click It Local website using the link here.

Chair of Maldon Business Board, Allison Gray, talks about her childhood memories of days out shopping in Maldon High Street - and what the town centre offers visitors now.

"When I was a child my mum used to bring me to Maldon High Street for shopping and one of my strongest memories of Maldon is of all the quirky independent shops - some still exist but of course many have long gone.

"The beauty of the independent shops was finding something different. Something you wouldn't necessarily find in a larger town with the larger chain stores. Maldon is still very much like that today and if you wander down the side streets and through the various lanes and walkways that connect the car parks to the High Street you'll find many hidden gems.

"You will also find an abundance of tearooms to feast on scrumptious cakes and homemade goodies. Did you know we even have a traditional sweet shop where you can grab your favourite sweet treats?

"Maldon High Street is the perfect place to shop for gifts for adults and children alike and you'll find yourself chatting to the friendly independent shop owners who all share a love for the town. Why not start with a coffee stop at Maldon Coffee where you can choose from over 65 different blends of coffee to fuel your day or purchase the beans as a nice gift to take home with you. Women's clothing is well covered in Maldon with at least 10 independent clothes shops and for children's and baby clothing we have Chic Petit. Coes Menswear holds a wide range of men's clothing brands.

"We have plenty of gift shops and even our very own independent bookshop!

"By lunchtime you might want to stop off for cake or a sandwich in one of the outside courtyards or High Street tea rooms then take a stroll to the Prom and enjoy being by the water and take in the stunning views. You are bound to find someone on The Hythe who can tell you about the tall ships and tales from Maldon's past. If you make it back up to the High Street before heading home then you must stop for a cocktail at the Oakhouse or a swift half of Maldon's finest ales in the Tap Room or The Blue Boar pub.

"Now that I'm all grown up I have my own independent women's clothing and gift shop, Willow & Fox, which I opened at the end of 2018. Like many High Street businesses, I am so grateful to the Maldon public who supported my business through lockdown so that we could come out the other side. We have recently moved our shop to the entrance of Edwards Walk which houses plenty of independent shops and if I need to buy a gift or a little treat for my home then it's definitely a good place to start. I love Maldon and feel privileged to live and work here."

-The Keep it Local campaign is being launched through Maldon District Council's Sense of Place initiative, with funding from the Magnox Decommissioning Fund.