It’s a gardener’s world
Cladach Sawmill and Garden Centre near Brodick had a glorious weekend for reopening, with gardeners eager for new plants. Staff member Dani Mutch is seen here in the new greenhouse beside the display of gerbera daisies.
There has been a bumper reopening at the Cladach Sawmill and Garden Centre near Brodick with gardeners eager for new plants, writes Hugh Boag.
The easing of lockdown restrictions last Friday meant that the new garden centre could fully open for business for the first time and the public were quick to take up the opportunity to shop.
Businessman Gavin Mutch took over the sawmill with his wife Tracy two years ago and after building up the shed and fencing business was about to open the completely refurbished garden centre and greenhouse when lockdown was imposed.
He has been able to keep business ticking over with pre-ordered sales for collection, but he was delighted to open his doors to the public last weekend with one-way social distancing measures in place.
Gavin told the Banner: ‘The opening has been very successful and while we have been busy it has never got too crazy and we have had a manageable flow of customers and everyone has been sticking to the new rules.
Gavin said sales had been good across the whole range of produce and that while he was struggling to keep up with bedding plant demand, the nursery had propagated a lot of plants themselves for sale as, he said, the wholesale nurseries on the mainland were also struggling with demand. Timber for raised beds has also flown out the door.
Gavin, who has two staff – Eric Milton and daughter Dani, home for the summer from Heriot-Watt University – added: ‘The opening has given me confidence for the future given there has been so much trade. I don’t really see the business as being for visitors and I am more dependent on residents, I am really appreciative of their support and hopeful for the future.’