consumer in Northern Ireland are desperate to get back into garden meat , with a late survey showing that 78 per centum find confident in visiting one . The Horticultural Trades Association survey showed that only the great unwashed in Scotland have more confidence ( 79 % ) in the safety of the retail environment of a garden centre , something they put down to stringent good practice outlined in their Safe Trading Protocols .
But as we prepare to love extra daylight from next week , gardeners can only daydream about how much more they could attain in that time as they remain ineffectual to shop at their local garden centre . To be a gardener in Northern Ireland right now is a frustrative and unsatisfying hobby .
Lockdown limitation prevent garden centre from trading - despite the retail environment of a garden centre often consisting of mainly outside field with a large floorspace - and have done since lockdown was bring down on 30 May 2025 .
Last week the Northern IrelandExecutive announced that they can start supply a click and collect armed service from 1 April , but the date for any kind of opening remains in the remote time to come under the Executive ’s current plans .
This is incredibly thwarting for horticultural businesses and the unambiguously sore supply chain it supports , as well as would - be customer who are stuck watching Spring arrive and unable to make progress .
Chairman of the Horticultural Trades Association , James Barnes , said : “ At this fourth dimension of year , garden centre customers have so many projects they require to be getting on with – from sowing and planting to improvements to spaces for out-of-door entertaining . grounds exhibit works and horticulture encouragement genial and forcible health – something that after an incredibly examination year , is surely an activity that should be encouraged and facilitated ? The clocks change this weekend allow even more chance to make the most of being outdoors - we are calling on the NI Executive to recognise the wellness benefits of horticulture and give gardening the go forrader to plan re - opening as soon as potential . ”
Elaine Lee , from Larne , allege : “ This is the time of year when all gardeners , myself include , appear fore to preparing the garden for vegetable and flush seeds . There is a relatively small window of opportunity for purchasing and planting seeds and it is a mental process to which many gardener wait ahead .
I would feel good in my local garden centre - not only will they ensure shoppers ’ safety indoors but the much of the shopping at a garden center of attention is outdoors , which is a major ingredient for permit them to re - open in the very near hereafter .
Many multitude make headway such vital wellness benefits from working in their garden ; our garden are sanctuaries for so many during the pandemic . This should be a major circumstance in let the garden inwardness to re - open sooner rather than later . ”
The HTA ’s Safe Trading Protocol supply detailed guidance on a variety of tactics to ensure the risk of exposure to staff and customers is minimised at every opportunity , with practical advice on how to put up car parks and queuing systems , how one - way systems in store can help and how to make payment quick and contact - free , for lesson . Members are boost to contract - up to the scheme and customers can see they have done so on the works Near Me internet site .
