OUR FIRST STEPS TO FREEDOM...
Cautious Britons head to the great outdoors
FRIENDS and family members flocked to parks yesterday to see each other for the first time since lockdown began more than 50 days ago.
The slight relaxation of the rules now allows people to meet one person from not within their household – as long as it is outdoors.
And many took the opportunity to end weeks of isolation to see loved ones and friends.
People also began fishing, playing golf, tennis and walking in beauty spots and national parks together as restrictions on how far people can travel were lifted.
Walkers were out – but not in force – in the Lake District after tourism chiefs urged day-trippers to stay away from the area which has seen a relatively high number of Covid-19 cases.
And the chalk path down to Lulworth Cove on the Dorset coast saw footfall again after Durdle Door car park reopened while long traffic queues were seen at beauty spots on the Souths Downs in Sussex.
But people were warned to keep their distance from others and avoid hotspots or busy areas.
Mayor of Brighton Alex Phillips urged tourists not to travel to the popular seaside resort this weekend as it “would not be safe”. Police chiefs called for people to show personal responsibility as they return to public spaces. And park rangers and security guards will step in if people fail to keep two metres apart or begin gathering in large groups.
Parks in London could even be closed if visitors do not maintain social distancing rules.
Going on holiday, including visiting or staying overnight at a holiday home or second home, and visiting the homes of friends and family are not acceptable reasons to be outside, police were told yesterday.
Overrun
Community leaders in beauty spots and park bosses fear being overrun and having safety breaches.
Mark Camley, of the London Legacy Development Corporation which runs the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in east London, has urged people not to travel far but to enjoy the open spaces nearby instead. He said: “The expectation now is that people will go out more as it gets warmer, so parks across London will have to introduce measures to ensure people stay two metres apart. “Messaging has been put out on pathways and fences around Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, for example, urging people to abide by social distancing measures and to not engage with people outside their household.”
Park bosses are even using the screen on the London Stadium to press the message home.
Mr Camley said: “We are really relying on people to use their own common sense.
“But some will ignore the advice unfortunately, and we will be deploying security and park rangers to step in and have a quiet word reminding those to stay apart.
“If there are major issues, I think parks would not hesitate in getting the police involved. “But we don’t want to get to that, we really want people to use their common sense.” Garden centres began reopen
ing yesterday across England for the first time – and demand was so high that queues formed before they threw open their gates.
Among businesses where keen customers waited patiently to buy new plants was the Longacres Garden Centre in Bagshot, Surrey.
Daily Express gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh said the reopening was welcome news for both growers and gardeners which could avert a total financial disaster in the sector.
He said: “Gardens enhance our lives, and now we have a chance to support and encourage those who grow the plants that fill them.
“It is up to us all now to make the supply chain work safely.”
Wellbeing
The reopening gives the £24billion industry hope of reducing huge losses after being forced to shut at the height of its spring season.
It is estimated that if the lockdown lasted until the end of June the sector would lose up to £687million. The Horticultural Trades Association estimated last month that growers faced throwing £200million worth of bedding plants on the compost heap.
And gardeners were warned to expect plant shortages because growers were holding back from planting new stock.
Chief executive of the Garden Centre Association Iain Wylie said: “There will be plenty of plants to choose from but it may take 10 days to get back to full availability.” The biggest garden centre chain, Dobbies, reopened 54 stores from Brighton to Carlisle yesterday with strict social distancing measures in place.
Squires, which operates in southern England, reopened six centres yesterday and planned to follow up with another eight by tomorrow.
Biosecurity Minister Lord Gardiner said: “Our decision to reopen garden centres will bring about wider benefits to consumers, especially for physical and mental wellbeing, which gardening can bring.”