On Monday evening, 23 March 2020, the UK Prime Minister addressed the nation about various restrictions that would be put in place to slow the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The instructions are summarised on the .Gov website as follows:

Stay At Home

1. Only go out for food, health reasons or work (but only if you cannot work from home).
2. If you go out, stay 2 metres away from other people at all times.
3. Wash your hands before you leave home, and as soon as you get home.
4. Do not meet others, even friends or family.
5. You can spread the virus even if you don’t have symptoms.

The summary and full text of the PM’s speech can be found by clicking the blue button below.

The following day, before First Minister’s Questions in the Scottish Parliament, the First Minister gave a statement to reaffirm the UK restrictions. The statement contained the following words specifically clarifying the position with regard to gardeners. This is the direct quote using the First Minister’s own words:

“….We know that for some people, for example self-employed gardeners and window cleaners, where there is no contact with other people, if they can go about their business safely, then this can be good for the community, and we would encourage them to do so.” 

The full text of the First Minister’s statement, and the direct quote above, can be found on the .Gov.Scot website by clicking the orange button below. 

Over the course of that week, from Monday 23rd to Friday 27th, there was also a variety of statements from other politicians, political commentators taking question and answer sessions from the public, and even a medical doctor as a guest on a mainstream television programme, who all also confirmed that where a solo gardener was working in a garden in isolation, who had no face-to-face or other contact with their customers, who could do so safely, could and should continue to carry out their work.

As I work in isolation, travel directly to customers’ gardens in my own van on my own, have no face-to-face contact with customers or the public when working, only use electronic invoice and payment systems, and have implemented a varity of safety measures, we will continue to carry out our lawn care and gardening schedule, until such time as the governments’ instructions change from the existing instructions and guidance set out above and on their official websites.

• No face-to-face contact with customers or public
• All uniformed clothing washed daily with detergent and laundry cleanser
• All quotes and invoices are emailed only – no paper copies
• No cash or cheque payments are accepted – only electronic payments
• Mobile phone wiped with foam soap after each use
• All machinery washed down with soap solution at the end of each day
• Text customer, whenever possible, in advance of arrival at a garden
• Email safety measures to customers (*4)
• When not at work – stay at home and follow government instructions
• Electronic schedules to be held & produced if requested by authorities

* References:

1. Anti-virus spray is a vetenary grade solution, and was purchased in early 2019, for our pets, long before COVID-19 surfaced.
2. We have worn nitrile gloves under safety gloves since we started our business in 2013. These current gloves were purchased in early 2019.
3. Face masks were purchased in 2013 and have been kept in our first aid kit since then.
4. Emails listing our COVID-19 safety measures were sent to our customers on the 19th of March (before the PMs speech to the nation), and another email updating our safety measures was sent on Tuesday evening, the 24th of March, after the FM’s statement. We will continue to update customers on our safety measures.