Scottish minister says garden centres and nurseries can sell via mail order

The Scottish Government has responded to HTA lobbying, by confirming that garden centres will be able to operate a home delivery service for seeds, plants and gardening accessories. This brings the Scottish advice in line with the rest of the UK.

Mairi Gougen, Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment wrote, “I am aware that some garden centres, nurseries and plant growers in Scotland have already switched to offering only a mail order service for seeds and plants and I am writing to encourage more of you to consider doing so. Of course, any business is free to remain closed.

“The Scottish Government emergency regulations allow businesses like yours to offer a mail order service for delivery where they can do so while adhering strictly to the social distancing and public health guidance. For more information on this please see Part 2 4(2) of The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 which you can find here.”

She continued, “I believe that allowing garden centres in Scotland to operate a home delivery service for seeds, plants, equipment, tools, pots and other essential gardening materials has the potential to promote physical and mental health and keep us active whilst also providing some much needed revenue for a pressured sector of our economy.”