Disappointed gardeners who turned up at Squires in Long Ditton yesterday (Wednesday) expecting staff to be welcoming them with open arms (at a safe distance of course) will be pleased to hear the garden centre in Woodstock Lane North will reopen tomorrow (Friday) from 11am.

The government gave permission for garden centres in England to reopen yesterday (they had already been open in Wales since Monday) but Sarah Squire, chairman of the family-owned business, said the Long Ditton branch would not open until tomorrow.

“We shall reopen our centres in stages,” said Sarah, who had been interviewed on TV’s BBC Breakfast recently saying that garden centres were not operating on a level playing field with DIY stores, which had already reopened as ‘essential’ retail during the lockdown. “Please be aware that you may experience queues in the early days of re-opening as we shall be restricting the number of people entering at any one time.”

Temporary opening hours would operate initially: Monday to Saturday 9am to 4pm and Sunday 10:30am to 4:30pm.

“We shall limit visitors to two per household on any one trip and no under sixteens please,” said Sarah. “Hopefully over time, we shall be able to review these restrictions.”

Sarah explained that the centres may look rather different from the last time they were open.

“We have plenty of plants and gardening products, but you may wish to consider substitutes if your usual plants or brands are not available, as our suppliers are also working under constraints at this time,” she said.

“The measures we are implementing are very detailed and include a number of alterations to our centres to help you shop more safely and efficiently. You will recognise a number of these measures if you have visited a supermarket recently.

“Some product groups may not be accessible, and areas may be taped off. We are introducing a one-way system. Please shop as efficiently as you are able and avoid browsing and picking up or touching items you do not wish to purchase.”

Sarah said the centre’s café-bar would remain closed.