News from the gardening world
Virus threat triggers mass cancellations, but many gardens still remain open
The coronavirus pandemic has forced the cancellation of spring and early summer horticultural and gardening events around the UK, though many visitor gardens are striving to remain open to the public.
The RHS has cancelled its entire events programme up to the end of June, which includes both the Malvern Spring Festival and Chelsea Flower Show in May – the first time Chelsea has been cancelled since the Second World War. Refunds will be given to all ticket holders (see panel) and everyone involved in the various shows has been contacted about the situation.
Although the RHS says that all those due to be a part of Chelsea 2020 will be accepted for 2021, the future financial situation for garden sponsors, horticultural businesses, plant suppliers and nurseries supporting the headline event remains uncertain. “Our RHS shows are vitally important platforms for the horticultural industry, and we are especially aware of the impact of cancelling these events on everyone involved. We will be doing all we can to help growers and nurseries to sell the plants they will have grown for the cancelled shows,” said RHS Director General Sue Biggs.
Gardens stay open
Although the four RHS gardens, Wisley in Surrey, Hyde Hall in Essex, Harlow Carr in North Yorkshire and Rosemoor in Devon remain open, all RHS garden events and libraries have closed. Work continues at the new RHS Garden Bridgewater, at Salford, near Manchester, which is still scheduled to open as planned on July 30. “As with everyone, we have no crystal ball, but for the time being we are planning our summer flower shows and our gardens remain open, as they are large outside spaces where people can escape in open space and benefit from some tranquillity and beauty, surrounded by nature – all things that are much needed during these unsettling times.”
At the time of going to press BBC Gardeners' World Live had just been cancelled but RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival was still scheduled to take place.
The National Trust has made the decision to keep as many of its gardens and parklands open free of charge, although its houses, cafes and shops will be closed. “While we will close our indoor areas to help fight the spread of coronavirus, we recognise people are likely to need access to open space,” said NT director general Hilary McGrady. English Heritage (EH) has closed all its staffed historic sites until May 1, with public events to be held during this period cancelled. Free-to-enter EH sites remain open to visitors.
Hope for NGS
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is open to paying visitors, but all glasshouses, restaurants, shops, treetop walk and children’s garden are closed. Kew’s satellite garden, Wakehurst Place in Sussex, is similarly open, but while access to the millennium seedbank and café is curtailed, ‘pop up’ catering in the grounds has been introduced. Cornwall’s Eden Project is also open, with heightened hygiene measures in place. Conversely, all the gardens that make up the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh, namely Edinburgh, Benmore, Logan and Dawyck, are closed to the public until further notice. Although events and some facilities are closed, many arboreta remain open to visitors, namely Westonbirt National Arboretum and Batsford Arboretum in Gloucestershire, Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest in Kent and The Yorkshire Arboretum at Castle Howard in North Yorkshire.
And gardeners can still look forward to visiting some of the 3,500 gardens opening under the National Garden Scheme (NGS). “Many of our gardens will remain open at the discretion of the owners,” said NGS CEO George Plumtree. “We've sent all gardens detailed guidelines that address practicalities such as social distancing, refreshments and visitor facilities. Some gardens have cancelled their openings in the coming weeks, so please check the garden listing on our website before setting out.”
Garden centres around the country are hoping to encourage people to visit and get gardening in the weeks and months ahead while the virus pandemic takes it course, with Dobbies and Blue Diamond centres currently keeping food facilities open, and Cherry
Lane centres offering special early openings for the over 70s.
● With measures introduced to address the pandemic changing daily, garden venues will be monitoring the latest Government information, then reviewing and updating opening and visitor support policies accordingly, so please check venue websites before starting your journey and take appropriate precautions. All information is correct at time of going to press.