Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether garden centres, gardens and public spaces are important for mental health, and whether they plan to prioritise the re-opening of such spaces when restrictions in place to address COVID-19 are being lifted.

The benefits of being outside are noted in the Government’s Guidance for the public on mental health and wellbeing aspects of coronavirus (COVID-19) which is available in an online only format on GOV.UK. On 18 April, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Rt. Hon. Robert Jenrick MP) said in his statement on COVID-19 that parks must remain open and people should be able to safely enjoy fresh air and green space.

On 13 May, we confirmed that garden centres could reopen. Our decision to reopen garden centres and nurseries in a safe way, will allow businesses to sell their products directly to the public and in doing so bringing about wider benefits to consumers, especially for physical and mental wellbeing, which gardening can bring.