Clwyd West MS Darren Millar is calling on the Welsh Government to consider reopening garden centres given the positive impact of gardening on both physical and mental health and wellbeing.

While garden centres have been allowed to stay open in England and Scotland during this latest lockdown, in Wales they are not listed as essential, so have been closed since the First Minister announced the third lockdown days before Christmas.

Darren believes they should be reopened and has tabled a question to the Welsh Government asking what consideration is being given to this.

He said:

“Garden centres in Wales should have a level playing field with those in England and be allowed to open. There are huge benefits for people’s physical and mental health and wellbeing that can be derived from gardening and it would also help businesses survive the economic storm caused by the pandemic.

“There are a number of fantastic garden centres in North Wales that are struggling to survive. It is therefore grossly unfair that they are not able to sell their goods while the big supermarkets sell plants, weedkillers and other goods in their stores and are making record breaking profits.

“The Welsh Government really need to consider this and prioritise their reopening before some of these garden centres are forced to shut their doors forever.”