Garden centres around Herefordshire have been busy since Monday’s government advice that garden centres could re-open as they install 2m markers and strict social distancing signage as they prepare to open their doors on Wednesday, May 13.

Pengethley Garden Centre near Ross on Wye will be re-opening but will also be continuing its click and collect service for those who are reluctant to venture out.

Elsewhere in the county, Wednesday will see the re-opening, under strict social distancing guidelines, of Radway Bridge (who will now close their telephone order collection service), Wellington Garden Centre ( whose Click and Collect and Home Delivery service will continue, but may take longer), Blue Diamond Garden Centre in Hereford and Lyonshall Garden Centre (who have limited capacity for delivery but will continue to deliver to people self-isolating). Cafes and toilets will be closed, one-way systems introduced, 2m markers installed, and all are asking that customers pay by card or contactless.

At plant wholesaler Allensmore, general manager Andrew Henry says they are seeing orders from garden centres beginning to fill their stores again. “But we’re not sure whether they will be able to get the footfall through, and I think it will be a slow ramp-up. And one positive of the garden centres opening again is that people who are self-isolating and unable to order online will now have access, through others, to plants, and the positive benefits of gardening. “It’s great that we can start selling plants again.”