What impact has foot and mouth had on the gardening industry

A. It is a slightly mixed picture, but certainly not a healthy one.

�

Country-based nurseries and garden centres are suffering in the same way as so many other rural industries. Nearly 70% of visitors to the countryside don't actually go marching across the 'countryside', but visit the coast and or other attractions, including garden centres and nurseries.

�

It is too early to say exactly what the impact of foot and mouth has been as the poor weather has been a disincentive to even the keenest gardeners, but the trade's representative body, the Horticultural Trades Association is in little doubt that the disease is having a serious impact. Its director general, David Gwyther, says: 'With an annual turnover of �3 billion, this is the beginning of our peak season. However, custom has dropped by an average of 25%. With no evidence of risk, people are avoiding garden centres and nurseries unnecessarily.'

�

A. It is interesting that garden centres and nurseries are being used by the government as places that are safe to visit in order to encourage people back into the countryside. The Secretary of State for the Environment said recently: 'I would say to people, you can go to a garden centre, to your local business, to local shops.'

�

A. Nursery owners and rural garden centres can only hope that the message that the vast majority of the countryside is still open gets through, although people are understandably confused and cautious.

�

There is also the hope that, if people can't get out and about they will concentrate their energy on the one place they know they can get some fresh air - their gardens.

�

A. Garden visits have been decimated. With many open gardens being in rural areas or attached to country estates, just when most should be preparing to open, the majority are still closed.

�

The National Trust is reviewing the situation this week, but last week only a small percentage of its gardens were open. All of the of the 200 or so private gardens due to open under the National Garden Scheme for early spring have stayed shut.

�