I agree with Titchmarsh, let Britain bloom

AWEEK ago, Alan Titchmarsh issued a call to arms in this newspaper for garden centres to reopen. As a former Environment Secretary, I agree. The Covid-19 lockdown has made us all aware of the value of spending time outdoors. When I was Environment Secretary, I was briefed on research which confirms that getting out into green spaces and natural environments yields significant benefits for both mental and physical health.

So I have argued strongly against closing parks or further restricting the freedom to go out for exercise, so families who don’t have gardens aren’t condemned to stay indoors, stuck in their homes for the duration of what could be a long emergency.

For people lucky enough to live in a home which does have outdoor space, I am sure their garden has made i t easier to endure the restrictions which are so vital to protect the NHS and save lives.

There are several reasons why the Government should feel able to allow nurseries and garden centres to reopen. If supermarkets can facilitate social distancing within their stores, so can garden centres, by applying the same kind of restrictions on maximum numbers allowed in at any one time.

Indeed many garden centres would find it easier to comply with social distancing than other shops because of their larger footprint, much of it outdoors. Moreover, if a supermarket chain can continue to sell plants and gardening supplies, it seems unfair that garden centres and nurseries (many of which are small, independently run businesses) cannot.

It also seems harsh that DIY stores are permitted to open for click-andcollect trade when garden centres are not. If people are permitted to shop for supplies to sort out jobs and repairs around the home, why can’t they do that to pick up the plants and equipment they need to keep their garden flourishing?

While my own gardening efforts are very rudimentary, even I know that spring and early summer is a crucial time for gardeners. April to June is the equivalent of Christmas for horticultural retailers. If they cannot open up soon, hundreds of millions of pounds worth of seasonal

plants may have to be binned and thousands of family-run businesses could go to the wall.

If you are asking people to stay at home for a long time, then give them something to do. As Alan Titchmarsh said in his article, the bedding plants in danger of perishing unsold ‘with their brilliant flowers, raise our spirits as well as feeding butterflies and bees. They let Britain bloom…’

As this lockdown grinds on, we need ways t o boost people’s morale. Allowing them to buy the blooms they need to brighten their gardens is a good way to do this without hindering our great national endeavour to fight the virus and save lives.

Levels of compliance with social distancing rules have been far higher than the experts predicted. The people of this nation have risen to the challenge and made drastic changes in order to protect the vulnerable. That commitment will not be diluted if the Government were to throw a lifeline to garden centres and nurseries.