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May 2020

Uncategorized

Harrogate garden centres prepare to re-open as lockdown measures ease

Published: 12 May 2020, 17:37 BST

Updated: 13 May 2020, 09:34 BST

by Ami Miller Lifestyle Reporter

Some garden centres across the borough will be opening their doors to the public from tomorrow, after being closed for seven weeks due to the coronavirus lockdown.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lj8hR1j_jkE

Some garden centres across the borough will be opening their doors to the public from tomorrow, after being closed for seven weeks due to the coronavirus lockdown.

It comes after the government announced on Sunday, that garden centres in England will reopen on Wednesday 13 May as long as they ensure social-distancing measures are in place.

RHS will be opening all four of its plant centres including the one at Harlow Carr.

Sue Biggs, RHS Director General, has said :

“We are pleased to reopen our RHS Plant Centres to bring joy, food and beauty into the lives of thousands of gardeners, and it is hugely encouraging that the Government recognises the vital role gardening and gardens play in supporting positive mental and physical health... We are ever mindful of the world we now live in and will, therefore, be operating with strict safety measures at all our sites to ensure we protect our visitors and staff who we thank for being patient with us at this time."

Crimple Hall Garden Centre in Harrogate has been offering contactless deliveries to customers during the lockdown, but now as restrictions are lifted they are preparing to open.

Sally Dugdale who is the plant manager at Crimple Hall, told the Stray Ferret that lockdown came at a bad time for garden centres:

"The height of the season is between March and June, so it's not been good at all for garden centres. We are now hoping that the season is extended with people spending more time in the garden and not going abroad."

But not all garden centres in the borough are opening tomorrow, with some saying they don't feel it would be safe for customers or staff.

Heoplants Nursery in South Stainley is remaining closed despite the go-ahead from the government. Deborah Withington, who owns the nursery told the Stray Ferret:

"We have been operating a contactless service since we closed... It has worked really well so we have decided to continue that way for now as we feel that casual visitors and passing trade would pose social distancing issues."