Visitor Guidance & Garden Opening Timetable 2021
We are looking forward to welcoming you back into our gardens
Our Garden Openers will each have conducted a risk assessment according to the guidance set out by the Scottish Government for the Tourism Sector to prepare their garden for re-opening.
As a garden visitor, we would appreciate your assistance with a few items:
Check the website Before setting out to any garden opening, please check our website HOME page and then the specific garden’s information page (found under FIND A GARDEN) for any relevant updates, cancellations or changes to booking arrangements.
Bring plenty of change While some gardens may operate cashless entry system, other garden owners will ask you to put your donation into a bucket and change will not be available.
Stagger your arrival time Traditionally most visitors tend to arrive around the start time. But we wish to have a more spread-out flow of visitors and you can assist by arriving at various times through the opening. Many of our garden openers have extended their normal visiting hours this year to help with this.
Practice physical distancing We are carefully planning each opening to avoid any potential crowding and may use ticketing for timeslots as appropriate. However, if overcrowding does occur unexpectedly, you will be notified on arrival by signage or by one of our volunteers. Please bear with us and be ready to cooperate with any requests to delay your visit.
Wash your hands Please practice good hygiene during your visit and avoid touching surfaces where possible. Sanitiser will be available at most gardens but please do bring your own if you have it.
Please remember to follow the latest government guidance regarding travel & meeting others -https://www.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/
Timetable for phased relaxation of restrictions - these are indicative and may be subject to change; please note that we are following Government advice that Gardens are permitted to open.
Early April
2 April - ‘Stay at Home’ requirement lifts, replaces with ‘Stay Local’ (retaining local authority-based travel restriction)
5 April - Garden centres open;
4 people from 2 households may meet outdoors (NB this is in addition to the garden owners as long as you are not walking/ socialising with the owners; however if owners are giving you a tour, above restrictions apply)
‘By Arrangement’ Gardens will be open; book a visit with the garden owner; contact details are on the garden listing page
Gardens that open over a range of dates will be open.
No refreshments will be available.
26 April
Outdoor socialising extended to permit up to 6 people from up to 3 households.
(NB this is in addition to the garden owners as long as you are not walking/ socialising with the owners; however if owners are giving you a tour, above restrictions apply)
Travel within all mainland Scotland permitted (subject to other restrictions)
Some ‘specific date’ garden openings will be open but check the website listing pages for any changes to published arrangements.
No refreshments will be available.
17 May
In-door socialising is re-introduced for up to 4 people from up to 2 households.
All types of openings resumed.
Refreshments resumed.
June
Up to 8 people from 3 households can socialise outdoors.
(NB this is in addition to the garden owners as long as you are not walking/ socialising with the owners; however if owners are giving you a tour, above restrictions apply)
(NB this is in addition to the garden owners as long as you are not walking/ socialising with the owners; however if owners are giving you a tour, above restrictions apply)