Allow garden centres to re-open

Most garden centres have big outdoor sections, and are rarely crowded.

Enforcing limits on entry will ensure physical distancing can be observed, even indoors.

Why the contribution is important

Being able to spend money on 'feel good' factor items will be a huge morale booster, and give people something to do whilst staying at home. There's added symbolism around 'new life/new growth', particularly in Springtime that can plant the 'metaphoric' seeds of hope for the future.

by JDKFB on May 05, 2020 at 02:45PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.7
Based on: 32 votes

Comments

  • Posted by Ironduke May 05, 2020 at 15:23

    Can social distance like in supermarkets, another economic activity and also will assist gardening as an outdoor activity.

  • Posted by Southsider May 05, 2020 at 19:31

    These mostly family owned businesses are unnecessarily being put at risk. If B & Q can sell plants, open all garden centres so that they can do likewise and survive, Just as easy for them to implement social distancing measures as any supermarket. And outside is a lot safer!

  • Posted by swangoose May 05, 2020 at 20:10

    Can't see why they ever had to close. Gardening is a great way to get through this and easier to social distance than in supermarket.

  • Posted by jhbrobertson May 05, 2020 at 21:42

    2m distancing is perfectly feasible if enforced by staff and numbers in the garden centre are limited - this would pose LOW RISK.

    HIGH RISK would be areas of max density such as restaurants within the centre and these should probably not be opened yet.

  • Posted by Shep May 05, 2020 at 22:46

    It is practical and therapeutic to allow people to grow some of their own food during lockdown.

  • Posted by Wyatt8 May 06, 2020 at 20:17

    Having garden centres closed while other, similar, businesses are allowed to open is yet another contradiction in the guidance and measures being implemented. As the original idea says garden centres are largely outdoors and together with social distancing having these types of place open seems a sensible approach to easing lockdown restrictions.
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