Garden centres are more essential than off-licences during lockdown

[Fev11]

Supermarkets already sell alcohol so why on earth are off licences listed as ‘essential’ during lockdown?

Plants and flowers, whether growing in a garden or on a windowsill or balcony have long been recognised as beneficial to mental health. Unlike off-licences, Garden centres could easily be adapted to be fully outdoor spaces.

My heart goes out to the growers who are having to throw out all their stock, who unlike many businesses who will still have their stock to sell when this is all over.

I think garden centres/nurseries are more essential during lockdown than off licences.

AIBU?

Sorry,forgot to sign, M A Wilson.

I wonder if garden centres could redistribute their perishable stock (or some of it) to essential and local shops to sell outside? not at a huge knockdown price or it would cause a stampede. I just hate the idea of all the waste.

There’s a lot of pressure in the Times and the Telegraph this morning to allow garden centres to open.

I'm really sad about all those plants going to waste, there has to be some way garden centres can operate and sell off their stock, even if it's just phone orders and drive-through collections...

Me too it’s the waste that gets me. Nurseries might be able to move some but I’m not sure orders to growers are happening either due to very low demand or other. It’s the growers who will be getting rid of their stock which will be high

garden centres should definitely remain open with distancing applying we may end up having to grow our own food the way things are going

There isn’t enough online seed catalogs or mail order plants since the garden centres aren’t open?
(I’m in Aussie and they still currently open with distancing (my local one also home delivers for a fee))

Surely home grown veggies are helpful for food security since the UK only grow about 50% of what you eat.

If you are alcohol dependant a local offie is a lifesaver. I agree gardening is good for mental health however this would encourage people to be driving to get plants etc and that is exactly what they don't want.
Being in the garden is good for mental health or order plants online.

I said yabu. I agree I don’t think off licenses are essential. But garden centres open will cause people to go out and browse. There’s already too many people popping to the supermarket for a few items. That said I think it’s a great shame about all the plants etc and worry for the future of many independent businesses.

@Sux2buthen

Where does your food come from if not plants....?

Plants are completely essential to the survival of life on this planet

As others have said, a big reason off licenses are deemed ‘essential’ because of the percentage of population who are alcohol dependant. The NHS couldn’t handle the wave of people going through withdrawal on top of everything else, and the police likely couldn’t cope with the spike in potential crime from individuals who are impacted and desperate to find a drink.

I can't think of a single off licence that only sells alcohol. Most also do key payments for meters.

And most garden centres these days sell a wide range of things, not just plants. A lot of people treat them as a bit of a day out with lunch in the cafe, If they were open a lot of older people would be going there and browsing around.

The trouble is, unless the garden centres can organise it so they can control the social distancing, they become no different to mass gatherings. It would be such a strain on the poor staff.

Garden centres are places for browsing and lingering, I bet you if the government were to add them to the list of essential shopping, there would be coachloads of people turning up en masse. It would encourage the very socialising that the government is trying to discourage. Then you'd get the wingers coming on here saying the government is being inconsistent. The clueless people would spoil it for those who want to quickly nip in and pick up a few trays of bedding to keep themselves amused over the long Easter weekend.

I love going to my local garden centre, and really miss it but no way would I go there atm, it would be full of people milling around spreading the virus.

There are quite a few online growers, with good websites. I've bought all mine online this year, and it should arrive in time for Easter, fingers crossed. Plus no worries about not being home to receive the delivery !

Or even the whingers

@user1511042793 well sure, I'm not saying let's get rid of the rainforests and destroy the world. I'm saying food from the off licence is available for people struggling.
I can imagine someone saying
'I'm desperate for bread or milk, I have no food at home. I'll try the corner shop'
But I'm yet to hear
'Good grief, we need to plant some Begonias and Tomato plants quick, I haven't eaten in days'

And yes obviously food can come from plants but in the short term a shop selling prepared food and drink is more helpful than a garden centre.

I guess you're right about browsing. I'm a gardener and allotmenteer but yes, I do like to browse and look around them. And take my time choosing/handling plants. Lots of people treat them as an afternoon out/family walk so would be hard to.manage and get people through. At least at Tesco they were asking people to get in and out efficiently. I'd happily drive up and ask for stuff or click/collect/have delivery but my nursery doesn't have anything like that kind of website facility. Shame this cant be easily relieved as this timing is terrible growing-wise. Re. Off-licences, there are very few 'just' offys nowadays. They sell groceries, utility top-up etc so I can see why they were spared.

All the garden centres near us are all setting up/have set up a delivery service. I've not personally ordered anything but this is a fab idea.

My mum loves her garden and I'm thinking of ordering some plants/compost/tubs for her.

YABU. Off licenses aren’t just for alcohol.

B and q are offering click and collect on their plants.....choice of 12 bundles

Started in Friday as there is so much stock it’s been bloody horrible to watch it go to waste . Spring bedding all needs to go but majority of nursery plants will be ok if maintained

Public pressure seemed to work at getting them ( and compost) switched on for c+c

A local little independent garden centre near us is doing click and collect or delivery.
I got some compost [- to a background of an angelic choir]

I disagree that growing fruit and veg at home would make any significant difference to food supply issues, although it's fun and educational. I grew tomatoes seriously last year as I was worried about imports given BREXIT and have a small child who is basically tomato-tarian. I did manage to produce enough tomatoes for her for about 3 months (which she refused to eat as not like the Sainsbury's ones ) but it took a lot of work, resources and unusually good weather. There is simply no way most Britons could produce as much fruit and veg for their families as even a semi-functioning supermarket supply chain. Grow your own is quite difficult!

I can hear the melodic strain of your angelic choir from here, @bellinisurge

💐. 🌷. 🌹

🐝. 🐞. 🐜

💐. 🌼. 🌷

@Phineyj it's not that difficult. We grow all of our own veg here (as do most people I know) and have a much shorter growing season than the UK.

And both my Grandparents and now Father grow most of their own veg. And they were/are in the UK.