A north-east horticulture boss says the date picked for Scottish garden centres to reopen is “perfect”. The premises, along with hairdressers and click-and-collect non-essential retail, will be able to welcome customers once more from April 5. It had been feared restrictions on trading would last much longer but growers across the country are now feeling a “huge sense of relief” with fewer than three weeks left to wait.
Elliot Mair, managing director of Raemoir Garden Centre in Banchory, was left “pleasantly surprised” by the announcement. He said: “We’ve been phoning our employees on furlough to tell them – it’s been great to give them such good news. It has been really challenging for everyone but now there’s a huge sense of relief. The public are ready to return to garden centres, and we’ve got all the procedures and a safe environment in place for our customers to enjoy.”
Earlier this month big names from the world of horticulture signed a joint letter calling for the urgent reopening of garden centres. They warned any delay could seriously hamper businesses, as almost three-quarters of bedding plants are sold between March and May.
Mr Mair said: “The timing for this is perfect.
“We’re missing the Easter period, but we feel there’s still plenty of opportunities for people to to garden – and support their local businesses, like ours, that have suffered.”
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