MONTHLY farmers markets at the Hamilton Institute of Rural Learning (HIRL) will return on the last weekend of February.

Institute committee president, Terry Fitzgerald said HIRL’s grounds, gardens and multiple walks were some of the few attractions in Hamilton that were not closed to the public during COVID-19 restrictions and the group had begun planning the return of the market, weekly activities and events.

“We are going to do everything we can to make sure that market happens,” Mr Fitzgerald said.

“A lot of our store-holders… relied on this market for their income, or to supplement their income.”

The market will be held outside to follow physical-distancing rules.

“Hamilton is pretty lucky with COVID, and I believe we should keep it that way,” he said.

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