Forum Topic

Garden Centres

I read that garden centres might re-open on Monday.  I really hope this is true.  Just been to Poundland to buy reading glasses and I don’t understand why they can open and garden centres can’t. I know garden centres are making deliveries but it’s not the same as visiting in person.  Why can’t they let people in, say 10 maximum like Poundland, and then one at a time. I think B&Q have been allowed to open stores and they sell plants, so why not garden centres?

Martine Guy ● 2376d57 Comments

There is nothing nicer than mooching around in a garden centre in my opinion. The one in Fulham Palace Road by Bishops Park was a favourite haunt of mine.

Sue Hammond ● 2376d

I agree, Sue.  I think gardening is good for you.  Good for your mental and physical health. I don’t understand why some B&Q’s have been allowed to open but garden centres can’t.  This time of year is when they make most of their money and I have read it has hit them very hard not being able to open. Did I read on here Wilko are open?  I like Wilko, but why can they open and garden centres can’t.  When you go to a garden centre there is usually plenty of space between you and other people when you are wandering about outside.

Martine Guy ● 2376d

"I think gardening is good for you.  Good for your mental and physical health."I agree in theory. But yesterday I tried this gardening lark. So far I have actually shredded a lot of garden rubbish, and it takes up a lot less space (volume?). However the attrition rate was high. A year-old pair of secateurs disintegrated in my hand, and the shredder (only 20 or so years old) eventually refused to chew anything more up. It had warned me a couple of times, but that was with only temporary shutdowns. Sorry, no photos, but the camera would probably self-destruct too. I hope that the waste transfer station reopens soon, as I shall have more to dump than I expected.-----------------------------I think that the answer lies in the soil.

David Ainsworth ● 2376d

David, I never thought I would like gardening, let alone love it. When spring comes, all the effort is worth it

Martine Guy ● 2376d

That Clematis is gorgeous Martine.💜

Sue Hammond ● 2376d

Thanks Sue.  It’s Vyvyan Pennell. Can’t resist posting this picture of the early flowering Olivia Rose Austin.  So beautiful!

Martine Guy ● 2376d

Fabulous! 💕Your photos are excellent. 👍🏻

Sue Hammond ● 2376d

Thanks, Sue.  Just coming up to time of year when the paeonies and lavender start to flower.  Flower heaven!

Martine Guy ● 2376d

I bet you have a lovely garden, I envy you.  I cram as many pots and planters as I can in my tiny front garden but the space, and amount of plants I can have is limited. 😕

Sue Hammond ● 2376d

Sue, I think it’s lovely, but I am biased. Does anyone know if garden centres are re-opening?  I think they mentioned it on the news, but it could have been to referring to garden centres in Wales.

Martine Guy ● 2376d

Yes it is just Wales, for now

Sue Hammond ● 2376d

Hot off the press, MailOnline, it’s next Wednesday.  So happy!  Can’t decide whether to go to East Sheen or Fulham.

Martine Guy ● 2376d

Good news!  Spoilt for choice.😸xx

Sue Hammond ● 2376d

Confirmed by BBC too"A senior government source told the BBC "The unofficial announcement may be reversed.They are doing unofficial briefings and testing the public response.No way to run a country!https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/amp/uk-52597586

Ed Robinson ● 2376d

...as with all those lift-off scenarios confidently floated by newspapers earlier in the week (sourced from where or invented to push their own agenda?) which the government then has to row back on and frustrate people's falsely created expectations. I sense the government has lost control, with so many things now going wrong because of their poor judgement.

Peter Evans ● 2376d

Or Neals opposite the Prison. Although I imagine there will be queues.

Caroline Whitehead ● 2376d

I have heard suggestions certain newspaper owners or some government members are trying to push their own agendas but it's causing uncertainty - chaos? - and likely to undermine the lockdown and compromising keeping cases of COVID19 transmission, R << 1, ideally R → 0   (Anarchy in the UK?) I'd agree that if DIY stores are open there's probably little reason to keep garden centres closed but you'll just have to be patient and wait until Sunday evening to find out what's happening, Johnson's probably still unclear himself :-(  

Michael Ixer ● 2376d

"A senior government source told the BBC "You have to ask why the BBC would report this without naming the source. There is no public benefit in announcing it today.The public would benefit in the BBC naming the source however!

Ed Robinson ● 2376d

"You have to ask why the BBC would report this without naming the source."Normal procedure, I'd have thought: government figure gives unattributed briefing (i.e., on condition the source isn't named) so they can always deny it afterwards if they need to: having it both ways, in other words. It's not specific to the BBC, all the news outlets follow this, or they'd never be told anything.

Richard Carter ● 2376d

That is true Richard apart from the fact that the other outlets have to sell their news and they are not the UK's public broadcaster!So the question still remains.

Ed Robinson ● 2376d

Just one more sleep Martine then you can be let loose on all the garden centres! 🥀🌺🌼🎋🌸🌻🌷🌹🌾  #fillyerboots

Sue Hammond ● 2374d

Hi Sue, that made me laugh thank you.  I think it might be 3 more sleeps as it could be Wednesday, who knows? Think I will be going to Fulham first as it’s an easy walk.

Martine Guy ● 2374d

Or you might have to travel to Wales on Wednesday?

Michael Ixer ● 2374d

Why would we be able to visit Wales? They won't want the English bringing more Covid-19 there?

Lucille Grant ● 2374d

Er, Lucille, unless I’m mistaken, I think it’s a joke.  thought we were having a fairly light hearted moment.

Martine Guy ● 2374d

Yes, it was meant as a joke. Wales has said garden centres will be allowed to open on Wednesday we have to wait until this evening to see if England is going to follow or not. Lucille, I undsrstand it's not been easy for you, hope Jean is continuing to recover.

Michael Ixer ● 2374d

Sorry Michael I didn't realise it was a joke - my bad. I thought you meant travelling to Wales period! It seems neither scotland nor Wales  is in as much of a hurry to lift lockdown as England  seems to be https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8304697/Nicola-Sturgeon-attacks-Boris-Johnson-dropping-stay-home-mantra.htmlJean is much better thanks :-) I've been ordering  gardening supplies online with limited success in deliveries. But my terrace has never looked better.

Lucille Grant ● 2374d

Not being able to go to the garden centre is not the end of the world and I am sure gardeners will manage.  I buy online, EBay is pretty good.  But why I started the thread, is because I don’t understand why B&Q, Poundland, Wilko and coffee shops can open, but garden centres can’t.  This time of year, for the garden centres and nurseries, is like Xmas is for other shops, when they do most of their business.   I think most gardeners are responsible enough to queue up at a social distance outside Adrian Hall and The Palace Gardener.

Martine Guy ● 2374d

Nothing tonight about garden centres.So was it fake BBC news???

Ed Robinson ● 2374d

Lucille, in the nicest possible way, i really don't understand you. On a post somewhere i saw you ranting about people getting take away coffees putting your life at rish because they were in a queue to get coffee (which i agree isn't essential). But you ordering gardening supplies online is?The people picking and packing your order are putting their health at risk; as is the courier....and all of those people are putting others health at risk just like people queuing for coffeeWhen the Government said people should only leave the house for essential items, they should have said people can only BUY essential NIMBY springs to mind. Again!

Emarisa Battoia ● 2374d

*risk not rish!

Emarisa Battoia ● 2374d

Gardening and green spaces (or other flowering colours as per Michael's lovely pics) is particularly good for mental health.  It's very therapeutic particularly when you are grieving as you see and appreciate the circle of life - the seasons.  Life goes on.

Philippa Bond ● 2374d

Emarisa: News to me that we were not supposed to buy things  on-line. Where did you get that from?

Caroline Whitehead ● 2374d

That's precisely my point Philippa - so many of us suffer with mental ill health - I certainly do - and gardening is known to help sufferers. After last night's Boris speech I've woken up more anxious than ever. From what I've read on the  2 gardening sites I used they are taking every care possible that their workers are kept safe Emarissa. No Nmbyism on my part I assure you. Go get your takeaway coffee if you are that desperate.

Lucille Grant ● 2374d

She's worried about the people who are packing the online goods, Caroline! (But not so worried about the  people who are serving her takeaway coffee, it seems) Also she has forgotten that  people are sorting and packing  our foodstuffs for  online delivery therefore also 'at risk'!

Lucille Grant ● 2374d

The online garden suppliers I have ordered from have clearly explained that delays are due to their having to abide by social distancing rules, just like every other company.

Jane Carter ● 2374d

I ordered some herbs that came using the Royal Mail.  They came in two lots, the second lot later than the first.  The Royal Mail are stretched and apparently have been concentrating on delivering packages rather than letters.  I did feel guilty afterwards.  They do make a difference but no they were not necessary. Was it Amazon workers who went on strike recently because they were not able to socially distance properly?  I don't order from Amazon for other reasons.  I think it is a shame that Government did not take a hard line with them like the French did. Companies need to survive.  People need to earn a living and I understand a lot of people are not covered by the systems put in place.  Many did not/do not have any savings to rely on.  They were already living hand to mouth - just-in-time shopping.

Philippa Bond ● 2373d

Oh Lucille yet again you make presumptions!! I have not had a cup of coffee since February and i generally don't get take away coffee or any other drink for that matter. So please dont comment on what i have been doing but as you are so interested i get up and go for a run, i then mill around at home for a bit, some days i cycle to my work place to check on the building and one day a week i deliver food parcels. I pop to the shops at about 9pm when hardly anyone is around and i wear a mask and glovesIs that ok?My point was about you critising people buying coffee but thinking its ok to buy plants etc online, because it seems that its only your health that matters and not that of other people!

Emarisa Battoia ● 2373d

as i said i dont drink coffee, and i never got take out coffee anyway. I prefer to sit in and have a coffee or make my ownyou are a funny one.....!

Emarisa Battoia ● 2373d

of courseand the reason that there is a queue outside a coffee shop is because they are slower as they are following social distancing tooso again, my point was that its ok as long as its not in Lucilles way!

Emarisa Battoia ● 2373d

Phillipa thank you so much for actually admitting that maybe it was not that essentialThat means a lotMy brother works for Royal Mail and they are shattered, more and more staff are off ill, they are not recruiting more staff and also alot of them have children now studying at home so they have to spend time doing that when they get home tooOn top of that they have not once been supplied with masks, gloves, or hand sanitizer (either personal or at work)All the masks and gloves you see them wear they have purchased with their own moneyYet people want them to deliver plants

Emarisa Battoia ● 2373d

I thought it would be a good thing to order the plants from a grower who could no longer sell to a garden centre.  I hadn't paid attention to how they were going to arrive - after all I was going to be in.Yes, the Royal Mail are another service that we shouldn't take for granted.

Philippa Bond ● 2373d

I agree that the Royal Mail is doing a terrific job in keeping the post service moving for which I for one am grateful but to put your mind at rest Emarissa the two garden orders I made were delivered by couriers.

Lucille Grant ● 2373d

I heard on LBC's reasons to be cheerful slot this morning that sales at garden centres were 45% higher compared to last year.  Wow! Martine must have been very very busy yesterday!😉 #inherelement

Sue Hammond ● 2371d

I think I'll wait a bit until the queues die down.

Caroline Whitehead ● 2371d

Went to bq at morden yesterday expecting huge queues. Nothing at all straight in all well organised. Needed some fencing materials but had a look at the gardening bit very well stocked. Will wait for garden centres to settle down b4 searching for plants.

Andy Pike ● 2371d

Hi Sue, I’d love to say I had been able to buy plants but I am having to contain my excitement — there is one more sleep to go until The Palace Gardner opens tomorrow.  No sign yet of Adrian Hall, East Sheen opening.  
Andy, when you are in Morden, remember there is a very nice garden centre inside the grounds of Morden Hall (National Trust).  You don’t have to pay to enter the garden centre.

Martine Guy ● 2371d

Pity you can't camp out in Bishops Park tonight Martine. 😸

Sue Hammond ● 2371d

I think my days of camping out or queuing all night are long gone but I am hoping to get up a bit earlier tomorrow!  

Martine Guy ● 2370d

Open, yaaay!!  Don't know if this has already been mentioned, but the one opposite Wandsworth Prison is fab, can't remember the name.But yes, might wait a week or so until queues have shortened.  But now we can go for a little drive for our mental health!!  Might just go and have a butchers,  Happy plant buying everyone, plants and flowers always cheer us up!! xx

Bunny Payne ● 2370d

It is Neal's Nursery. It has been there a long, long time.

David Ainsworth ● 2370d

Yes, fully agree Bunny re garden centre opp prison.  Called Capitol Garden Centre - used to be Neals.  Every type of compost and huge range of plants (well, normally) both indoor and outdoor.  But have a feeling the queues will be too long for me this weekend so probably mid week best.  Another excitement will be the news that we can once again put out garden refuse as of next Monday, presumably max of three bags.  This all brings joy to my heart!

Sandra Edwards ● 2370d

The Morden Hall one not yet open. Sure it will be soon but National Trust not yet taken the step. Actually the quality not as good as previous operators and dearer... in my opinion, but I know others who differ in that view. I like the one in Lower Morden Lane one of the few places that do minty choos treats for my sons dog

Andy Pike ● 2370d

Martine: Did you manage to get to the Fulham Palace Rd Garden Centre? Queues?

Caroline Whitehead ● 2369d

Hi Caroline, Yes I did go to the Palace Gardener.  I was there at 9.50 am for when it opened at 10 am.   I was 9th in the queue and there were about 5 people after me.  I thought the queue moved quickly but I have no idea what it was like as the day progressed.  I bought 7 plants but they didn’t have everything I wanted, so during the afternoon we drove to the garden centre by the prison, as recommended on this thread.  It was very, very busy.  No parking and a long queue to get in.  we will try again. Andy, I would not go out of my way to go to Morden Hall garden centre, but it makes a change if you are in the area.   I think garden centres vary as to what is in stock, sometimes I can visit one and find lots to buy, other times there is nothing I want.

Martine Guy ● 2369d

The guy who runs The Hardware Shop opposite Daley Fitness on the Upper Richmond Rd had diversified into selling plants after Christmas and is now open again. He is restocking and will have more from tomorrow. He also has bags of soil etc.

Mary Walker ● 2367d

We visited Neals Nursery, by the prison, today.  It was about a 35 minute wait and they had some different plants to Palace Gardener.  Never been to this garden centre or this part of Wandsworth before.  It felt like being in the countryside, especially with the sun shining.

Martine Guy ● 2367d