Boost as garden centre re-opens in Doncaster

Cherry Lane Garden Centre, in Tickhill, confirmed it was opening this morning, but with measures to allow for social distancing to allow customers to circulate safely. Bosses say it is classed as an essential retailer as it sells a wide range of food, pet and convenience items as well as as garden items.

The venue closed its doors at the end of March, donating perishable goods to a wide range of charities and community groups.

Group operations director, Karl Ottolangui, said: “We are delighted to be able to reopen on Wednesday and welcome our customers back.

“We have carefully studied how other essential retailers have handled social distancing to allow them to reopen while keeping staff and customers safe. The measures we now have in place follow best practice, and the advice of the government and the British Retail Consortium.”

The garden centre has a designated queuing area outside. Markers are being placed at two metre intervals to help customers respect each other’s personal space.

The centre also has two metre floor markers inside, and all checkouts are provided with protective plastic screens. Wellington’s café will not be open at this stage.

Phil Perkins, manager at Cherry Lane Tickhill, said: “All of the team here at Cherry Lane are very excited to be back and serving our customers again. People are spending a lot of time in their gardens at the moment, so we are ensuring we are fully stocked and looking forward to being able to supply all our customers’ needs.

“However, for the safety of our customers and staff, we do ask you to bear with us if you have to queue, and obey the social distancing procedures we have in place, as we are limiting the number of customers in the centre at any one time. We are providing cleaning stations for our trolleys, encouraging contactless or card payments and asking customers to shop alone if at all possible.”

The centre opened up to staff for a day earlier this month to look at plans for re-opening.