To go to a local garden centre?

[Thetimehascomethewalrussaid]

I feel like I might get flamed for this. I'm on maternity leave and obviously we're in full lockdown. Where I live is also currently in the throes of Storm Christoph and the rain outside is literally like the wrath of god - so no chance of a walk. My baby is teething and really grumpy and I'm going out of my mind being stuck in the same four walls all day every day. All baby classes have been cancelled, can't even go somewhere for a quick coffee to break up the day. My husband is at work (he's a teacher and over half of the school are in because the government have massively expanded the list of what constitutes a 'key worker' - so it's not really a lockdown, but that's another thread!) We have a support bubble because we have a child under 1 but they're also at work in the week (also teachers). Our local garden centre (2 min drive away) is open - would I be unreasonable to pack the baby in the car and go and have a look round there for an hour? Just to break up the day and regain a bit of sanity? Not an essential journey, but arguably important for mental health! My husband now has weekly COVID tests - he had one yesterday and it was negative so it's highly unlikely we have it! Feel like I'm going mad!

[Proudboomer]

I am a keen gardener and usually by now I have started on the garden for this year including numerous trips to the garden centre for compost, seeds, plant foods and a bevy of sundry items that take my fancy.
This time of year there won’t be much in a garden centre to mooching around looking at. Not many plants maybe a few bulbs but maybe you would enjoy looking at gardening gloves and wellies, racks of seeds and piles of different composts? Large areas of a garden centre will be outdoors so you will still get wet so you might as well dress in your water proofs and just take a walk.
And the cafe will be closed so no nice cake and hot chocolate to look forward to.

[Freshair85]

I understand why you would want to go as I'm on mat leave too and my support bubble are hours away. However, I went out once to the supermarket as so bored and now have covid with an angry baby who I keep waking up with my cough!

[ilovesooty]

@Dita73

Why are garden centres open? You never need an emergency hydrangea. Weird

For pet food etc?

They weren't open in lockdown 1 though and I don't think they should really be used for browsing and to relieve boredom purely because it's common sense that the less interaction people have with others the better at the moment.

[Icanseegreenshoots]

Ignore the posts that are hysterical. You are allowed to go, so go and enjoy it. It is one of the very few freedoms we have left.

[PinkSparklyPussyCat]

Not essential though, there's supermarkets for that.

My cat doesn’t eat supermarket cat food so yes, specialist pet food shops are essential.

[SchrodingersImmigrant]

Basically this is showing that there really needs to be more detailed guiadance with "shops are not for daily walks when the weather is shit, only go to shop when you plan on buying things there" because some people can't figure it out on their own🙈

[Proudboomer]

Wilko is open so if you are that bored why don’t you go and stock up your cleaning supplies and toiletries?
Maybe live dangerously and buy some nappies and wipes?

[Cuntitinthebin]

You may think you're low risk to the people at the garden centre, but you're placing unnecessary risk on yourself, and risking bringing it home to your husband, who could then take it into school.

But it sounds like you've made up your mind, so...

[Clawdy]

If it's open, GO.

[Icanseegreenshoots]

Jesus she is going to a garden centre not a rave for 10,0000!

[LooneyLovefood]

Just go for a walk outside for an hour where you'd not be at risk and wouldn't put any staff at risk? Put the rain cover on the pram, grab a coat and some wellies and away you go. Ive been feeling pretty down and trapped in my four walls and was tempted with an aimless browse round B&M but then saw sense, so I went for a run instead in. Just because shops are open doesn't mean you need to go in them.

[Sooverthemill]

The point is that garden centres are open so that the horticultural industry won't fold and so that people who have gardens/ allotments can buy tools and equipment. Gardening can be very beneficial both emotionally and physically. If you go to buy an essential eg a spade you can also buy something else but the purpose of the visit has to be to get something essential. Just like going to a supermarket to buy bread and carrots you can also pick up a magazine. But the purpose of the visit is to get an essential item. They won't stop you buying a houseplant but you really shouldn't be going just to browse and stop being bored

[SchrodingersImmigrant]

@Icanseegreenshoots

Jesus she is going to a garden centre not a rave for 10,0000!

If everyone bored goes ylto garden centre it very well might end up as a rave for 10000😂 Since many of us are bored😂

[TableFlowerss]

YANBU because they are open. They shouldn’t even be open...... there’s nothing a garden centre could have that is essential

[Ch3rish]

@Proudboomer

Wilko is open so if you are that bored why don’t you go and stock up your cleaning supplies and toiletries?
Maybe live dangerously and buy some nappies and wipes?

Last week my local Wilkos had pick and mix on offer, brightened up my shop for some toiletries

[Sparklingbrook]

I think it's the 'hour' that is relevant here. That's a long time to be mooching about coming into contact with other people presumably doing the same thing. If you don't actually need anything. Then maybe needing the baby change facilities etc.

[ilovesooty]

@Icanseegreenshoots

Ignore the posts that are hysterical. You are allowed to go, so go and enjoy it. It is one of the very few freedoms we have left.

It's not hysterical to point out that social interaction needs to be kept to a minimum just now.

[PinkSparklyPussyCat]

@TableFlowerss

YANBU because they are open. They shouldn’t even be open...... there’s nothing a garden centre could have that is essential

There’s been a few examples of the essential things garden centres sell on this post

[Sparklingbrook]

'Hysterical' is definitely one for the MN Covid Bingo Card.

[ilovesooty]

@Icanseegreenshoots

Jesus she is going to a garden centre not a rave for 10,0000!

That sounds a trifle agitated to me. I won't use the word hysterical.

[lanthanum]

Our local garden centre have asked people to come prepared with a shopping list and minimise the time they are there, so probably wouldn't take kindly to someone browsing for an hour for a change of scene.

I think a walk in the rain might be a better idea - once you're out, it won't seem so wet, and you'll feel much better for it. Child will be fine in their buggy.

[Vintagevixen]

Go for it, I had a little wander around M and S yesterday and bought myself a pair of PJ's. The risk of transmission or spreading in a shop is tiny if you follow all precautions.

What I probably wouldn't do at present is be in a care home/go to hospital/ be a low paid worker crammed into a warehouse fulfilling all the orders for those who refuse to leave their homes - waaaay more spread in those places at present, they truly are high risk places.

[itssquidstella]

Yan I. Go!

[2020iscancelled]

I don’t know why you’ve asked on here because everyone knows that MN readers are mentally robust and able to manage the demands of reflux afflicted triplets whilst juggling a full time demanding high flying role, whilst decorating their whole house, rustling up Michelin level meals for their other 3 school age children, who they are also homeschooling single handedly.

If they can do ALL THAT whilst also never needing to leave their houses since March last year then you too should be able to manage with one measly baby.

Who cares if anyone else says your mental health isn’t enough of a reason. It is. They are open. You have no symptoms and therefore are doing nothing wrong at all.

People forget how hard it is with a very young child, let alone in total isolation.

On balance the risk is negligible. What risk is it to your mental health if you don’t get to leave the house? Probably more significant.