Garden centres in the United Kingdom must physically remain closed for the time being by orders of the British government. The HTA has launched an alternative so consumers can still get plants at home.
Despite the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), garden centres and TV gardener Alan Titchmarsh are sounding the alarm in London, the British government does not mark garden products as essential during corona times. The UK Secretary of State Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, Alok Sharma, wrote an open letter to the British retail industry.
Physical stores that do not sell food or medicines will remain closed for the time being. The sale of floricultural products in supermarkets can continue. The British government is promoting online sales by non-essential retailers, including garden centres. Sharma does specifically mention ’hardware’ products as essential, but the largest DIY store chains B&Q and Homebase are currently only open online.
Home delivery
As an alternative to closed garden centres, the HTA has launched the webpage ’Plants Near Me’. Consumers can use this in their local search for garden centres and nurseries offering home delivery.
