This petition was submitted during the 2019-2024 parliament
Rejected petition Reopen garden centres etc in lockdown. Essential business, promotes well-being,
Add garden centres, nurseries etc to list of essential business permitted to trade during Coronavirus. Many don't have online sale of plants. Allow opening with restrictions, protecting staff and customers, similar to supermarkets. Most of us live within 2 - 5 miles or less, much like supermarkets.
More details
Many garden centres currently risk financial ruin, their busiest trading period over the next 3 months. They make a vital contribution to the nation's care of our natural world and wildlife in particular, promoting plants that attract bees and butterflies, both under serious decline. Gardening, whether we have a garden, a balcony or simply a table, helps us to keep physically and mentally well, both essential during this lockdown. Caring for plants helps us to care for ourselves and each other.
This petition was rejected
Why was this petition rejected?
We can't publish petitions when the request is something that's already happening or something that has been announced since you started your petition.
We think your petition is covered by Government or Parliament action already. If you'd like something else, you could start a new petition clearly explaining what it is.
Since you started your petition the Government has added garden centres and plant nurseries to the list of businesses that are permitted to open: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/further-businesses-and-premises-to-close/further-businesses-and-premises-to-close-guidance
You can find out more about coronavirus and how you can protect yourself and others here:
www.gov.uk/coronavirus
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
The Government has also created an online service to help you out what you can do if you’re struggling because of coronavirus: https://www.gov.uk/find-coronavirus-support
You can read NHS tips to help if you are worried about coronavirus here: https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/coronavirus-covid-19-anxiety-tips
You can read impartial analysis of the Government response to coronavirus and policy developments here: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/coronavirus/
You may also be interested to know that because of the large number of petitions that have been started in relation to coronavirus, the Petitions Committee has been questioning the Government about its response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Find out more and watch the Committee put questions suggested by petitioners to Government Ministers and the Deputy Chief Medical Officer: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/news/145767/committee-question-deputy-chief-medical-officer-and-ministers-on-coronavirus-response/
Read letters asking further questions of Government Ministers: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/publications/3/correspondence/
We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards.