The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 4 letter word JETE
J
E
T
E
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "spring in Covent Garden, perhaps" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case spring in covent garden, perhaps = jete.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does JETE mean?
JETE noun- A leap from one foot to the other in which one leg appears to be "thrown" in the direction of the movement.