Rural Payments and Services

Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment Mairi Gougeon MSP has written a letter encouraging garden centres to operate a home delivery service, where they can do so while adhering strictly to the physical distancing and public health guidance.

Acknowledging some garden centres, nurseries and plant growers are already offering this service, Mairi Gougeon is encouraging more to do so.

“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”.

“While the Scottish Government’s priority in the COVID-19 crisis is to protect lives, we also need to do all we can to protect livelihoods” said Ms Gougeon.

Read Mairi Gougeon’s letter in full.