Surbiton’s next Farmers’ Market will go ahead as planned on Saturday March 20, despite the closure of Maple Road from this week.

Work on replacement gas mains is expected to be completed in time for the market to run in its usual location, between St Leonard’s Road and Westfield Road. As usual, visitors are advised to walk to the market or use public transport.

Sunny weather brought large numbers to the first Farmers’ Market of the year, held in Maple Road last month. With more stalls and new producers alongside regular stallholders, local residents now have an even wider range of seasonal produce and speciality foods to choose from, including locally produced fruit and vegetables.

Maple Road Surbiton Farmers’ Market is a Community Interest Company, organised by and for the local community, and run by volunteers. Surplus proceeds from the three trial markets late last year are now being returned to the community to support local charities and good causes.

Among the first to benefit has been The Stud Farm Nursery in Home Park, run by The Causeway Centre for adults with learning disabilities, which received a cheque for £528 at the February market. The sum included £390 raised at a party for local residents and traders, hosted by Maple Road bar, Gordon Bennett.

The market will also be donating in the region of £300 to fund a special lunch for the elderly at Surbiton Assembly Rooms on May 19. More than 30 local people are expected to attend the lunch, organised under the Friendship Hour scheme, an outreach project of the nearby Surbiton High School.

Each month the Farmers’ Market hosts a stall run by a local charity or fundraising organisation. Last month’s nominated charity was the Surrey Wildlife Trust. The March market will welcome The Fircroft Trust, a charity based in Ditton Road, Surbiton, which supports adults living in the community with mental health problems and/or learning disabilities.

Geoffrey Doyle, co-chair of the group of volunteers who organise the Farmers’ Markets, said the aim remained to make them a regular monthly community event. ‘It’s fantastic to see so many residents supporting the market. Our thanks also go to the many volunteers since without their help it wouldn’t happen. We hope to donate in excess of £5,000 during 2010 for local charities and good causes.’

• For more information on Maple Road Surbiton Farmers’ Market contact Geoffrey Doyle on 07949 155441 and Sarah Taylor on 020 8390 5673. Look out for more details at www.mapleroadsurbiton.co.uk. Next month’s market will take place on Saturday April 17.