So I can't go for 2 walks but I can go to a garden centre

[AliceAbsolum]

Don't understand the once a day rule. Never have. A little afternoon walk keeps me sane.

Moan moan moan.

@AdobeWanKenobi

Especially in the middle of winter.hmm

You do know the middle of winter is an ideal time for moving, planting and maintenance of some plants because they are dormant, right?

I do have a rose bush to move... but its too snowy still and I'm loathe to do it in the snow. Next week...

Thing is those of us who work in these places have to accept people coming in for all sorts of non essentials.... with family in tow, clearly for a browse and ‘to get out for a bit as there’s nothing else to do’

Boris really thinks people are running out for an essential item. He needs to work a shift with me where customers are offended if you step back away from them or screech at you when you ask them to pull their mask up over their nose

I had a man chatting to me for a good ten minutes on Sunday. He said it was nice we were open and he hadn’t spoken to anyone in weeks

I sympathise ( and I did indulge him, I’m human and he reminded me of my dad) but Boris needs to tighten up and take that option away

Retail staff are mentally DONE!

@TillysMum02 I'm sorry that's been your experience.

My most local garden centre has my pet food, a farm shop for produce and meat as well as the essentials I need for growing my own produce. I don't take the whole family with me but appreciate some do.

I don't understand why garden centres specifically seem to garner such vitriol

@TillysMum02

Thing is those of us who work in these places have to accept people coming in for all sorts of non essentials.... with family in tow, clearly for a browse and ‘to get out for a bit as there’s nothing else to do’

Boris really thinks people are running out for an essential item. He needs to work a shift with me where customers are offended if you step back away from them or screech at you when you ask them to pull their mask up over their nose

Thats the problem... and precisely why I'm avoiding garden centres. Because they currently aren't serving the interests of people who want to use them most...

[quote StylishMummy]@TillysMum02 I'm sorry that's been your experience.

My most local garden centre has my pet food, a farm shop for produce and meat as well as the essentials I need for growing my own produce. I don't take the whole family with me but appreciate some do.

I don't understand why garden centres specifically seem to garner such vitriol [/quote]
Jealousy.

@ivykaty44

My high street this morning is bustling,

Costa open for take away
Two other coffee shops open for take away
3 smallish supermarkets open
Greengrocers open
WHsmiths open
Boots open
Savers open
Robert duos open
Bakery open
Library open
Not much different from yesterday

With the possible exception of the coffee shops (and even they could be indispensable to key workers coming off shift/emergency services needing food and drink), that all sounds pretty essential to me. Pharmacies, supermarkets, hardware stores and community hubs are all necessary.

I'm disabled, so very often can't walk far in one go. I usually have to split walks up into two, maybe three, outings to be able to get any benefit. I've no outdoor space (fourth floor flat). I will continue to do this - it all adds up to around an hour a few times a week.

@RedToothBrush same, couple of acers to move though. Also got a few Virginia creeper I want to put in, great time for those, in fact perfect time of year for any hedging plants etc.

Do other people just stop gardening in winter then I wonder?

We have a garden centred at our store. I was garden centre manager few years ago

It’s for mental health as well as ‘grow your own’ and items for allotment owners
Fences for repair to keep animals in/intruders out
Also pest control... most sell rat/mice items
Fuel....ours sells firewood/coal etc
Builders yards are often located within garden centres too, so bigger items like paving slabs/fence posts/bricks sand and cement. Essential to rebuild walls

[quote AdobeWanKenobi]@RedToothBrush same, couple of acers to move though. Also got a few Virginia creeper I want to put in, great time for those, in fact perfect time of year for any hedging plants etc.

Do other people just stop gardening in winter then I wonder?[/quote]
Depends on your garden I guess. And how much you love gardening (or view it as a chore/hard work).

I did very little in November and December and was quite excited about January as there were a few more things I could do. I've missed getting out as much. My waistline supports this seasonal problem.

I'm trying to be particularly organised as the shortages last year were a real issue and I'm already seeing similar this year. Demand is through the roof and suppliers still can't keep up with it.

@TillysMum02

We have a garden centred at our store. I was garden centre manager few years ago

It’s for mental health as well as ‘grow your own’ and items for allotment owners
Fences for repair to keep animals in/intruders out
Also pest control... most sell rat/mice items
Fuel....ours sells firewood/coal etc
Builders yards are often located within garden centres too, so bigger items like paving slabs/fence posts/bricks sand and cement. Essential to rebuild walls

The Christmas Decorations didn't really help the browsing problem...

Are you sure you can go to a garden centre?

Some libraries are community hubs

much as reading and books are important as is the community - not sure its safe right now, and our local library is open

My local garden centre is open but it says
“Is your visit essential?”
Which I think is a good way of viewing it. If your going as a way to occupy yourself. Not essential.
If your going to get some compost to grow some veg, or pet food I can see that as essential.

@ivykaty44

Some libraries are community hubs

much as reading and books are important as is the community - not sure its safe right now, and our local library is open

Internet access for those who don't have it...

@IHateThisVirus yes www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home

@boobot1 Winter is the time to plant many things that you harvest later in the year. I recently planted some fruit trees/bushes into my allotment. I’m currently preparing the ground for first early potatoes and levelling a section for a greenhouse. I’m not doing onions and garlic this year but they normally go in around now. You can plant varieties of cabbage and lettuce all year round. Soon I’ll be starting seeds in seed trays to be transplanted outside when they’re bigger and the weather is warmer.

At home, I’m slowly creating a pollinator-friendly garden (it was completely paved over when we moved here) to boost the numbers of insects that we all depend on. I’ve just got some climbing plants that I’m going to put in at the weekend.

Plenty of gardening to do in winter

The exercise once a day thing is completely unenforceable. You can go out for a run, cycle to work if you don't work from home, walk the dog twice, and then decide you need milk and bread (and a "cheeky" bottle of wine" from the local shop and walk there too. That's a lot of leaving the house and exercising.

The whole point of the exercise guidelines is to stop people using it as an excuse to mingle with others (hence the no picnic rule) and to stop people wandering around busy streets all day. It means the police can justifiably tell those doing that to go home and apart from the odd over zealous one, will not be interested in those actually exercising, following social distancing guidelines etc. There is very little risk attached to actual outside exercising.

The legislation has just been published. I have summarised it here:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/4126959-New-English-COVID-legislation-published

NO LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF TIMES A DAY YOU CAN EXERCISE

Thank you @Horizons83