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.

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.

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