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 based on Scottish Government’s COVID protection levels - these are indicative and may be subject to change; please note that we are following Government advice that Gardens are permitted to open. (Last updated 26 April.)

16 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.

‘Takeaway’ refreshments may be available at some gardens, at the discretion of the garden owner.

17 May

Mainland Scotland expected to move to
Level 2 (follow link to see what you can and can’t do)

8 people from 8 households may socialise outside.

All types of openings resumed.

Outdoor grouped standing events are advised to operate with a maximum capacity of 250 people. (nb our openings are not grouped standing events but a useful indication of what is allowed)

‘Takeaway’ refreshments may be available at some gardens, at the discretion of the garden owner.

7 June

Mainland Scotland expected to move to Level 1 (follow link to see what you can and can’t do)

Up to 12 people from 12 households may socialise outside.

Outdoor grouped standing events are advised to operate with a maximum capacity of 500 people. (nb our openings are not grouped standing events but a useful indication of what is allowed)

‘Takeaway’ refreshments may be available at some gardens, at the discretion of the garden owner.

End of June

Mainland Scotland expected to move to Level 0 (follow link to see what you can and can’t do)

Up to 15 people from 15 households may socialise outside.

Outdoor grouped standing events are advised to operate with a maximum capacity of 1000 people. (nb our openings are not grouped standing events but a useful indication of what is allowed)

‘Takeaway’ refreshments may be available at some gardens, at the discretion of the garden owner.