Gardens are growing even more popular
GREEN-FINGERED Scots have spent £192 on average sprucing up their gardens in the past year, according to research from Bank of Scotland. The pandemic has sparked a surge in home improvements, with 47 per cent of those who have upgraded their gardens designing the makeover themselves. Lockdown has forced many to splash the cash to make the most of the unusually sunny Scottish summer. The five most popular items flying off the shelves in the past year are garden furniture, outdoor lighting, equipment and tools, barbecues and lawn mowers. Families splashed the most cash, spending on average £245 to keep kids entertained with barbeques, swimming pools, and outdoor toys. Young couples without kids have also been investing in their outside spaces with almost one third spending the money saved in lockdown on improving their garden. More than one quarter of this group were inspired by the prospect of jumping on the trend of “indoor-outdoor living.” Despite the surge in homeowner garden care, one in 10 people have had a garden item stolen or damaged in the past year, highlighting the importance of keeping your insurer up to date with garden renovations. Forty per cent of people with gardens admit that they do not know if their home insurance protects their outside space.
Tim Downes, Senior Claims Manager at Bank of Scotland, said: “Gardens have become a much-needed escape in the past year... It’s no surprise that so many people have invested more money into making it an enjoyable space. As people continue to use their outdoor space more frequently, they need to re-evaluate their insurance needs.
“Keeping a copy of receipts and alerting your home insurance provider to new purchases are really simple actions that ensure that you have a stress-free summer, enjoying the outdoors.”
As well as having insurance you should make sure you keep your garden safe by locking away tools and toys when not in use and making sure any garden gates can be locked at night.