The children and babies who were present at a special Mother’s Day service at St Tugual’s Chapel in Herm. (0933364)

ST TUGAL’S Chapel was the setting for Herm’s first special Mother’s Day service. The Rev. Richard Bellinger came over specially to take the service, which was in celebration of mothers everywhere.

This felt like the beginning of spring, with clean, yellow light filling the little church and the uplifting words of All Things Bright and Beautiful opening up the ceremony. Outside in the manor garden, the first flowers are opening, reminding us that this is the last service of the winter season.

Mr Bellinger paid tribute to Mary, the first Christian mother, and seven-year-old Eden Latter delivered the reading, which was Mary’s Song from the book of Luke.

There were several island children present and each had the opportunity to make posies of wildflowers – including primroses and violets – for their mothers.

There was also the opportunity to light a candle for the mothers who were present, but also in remembrance of others who are far away and no longer with us.

It is only two weeks until the hotel opens and the summer season begins. Staff have already started to arrive and within the next couple of weeks the island population will double almost overnight.

The maintenance team has worked extremely hard this winter and there have been many improvements all over the island, including the renovations at the Mermaid Tavern and the updating of several self-catering cottages.

The island gardeners are already preparing for this year’s Floral Guernsey competition with the planting of hundreds of trees, and the completion of the new Woodland walk, an ambitious project that has been finished far sooner than originally planned.

This new walk and picnic area will be opening next month.

We are all looking forward to a busy and successful summer. With the guests comes the sunshine, so beach days aren’t too far away and we can all finally shake off those winter blues.