Following last week’s reflective blog on the importance of green space, I have summarised our (local) current thinking on how to use community garden spaces spaces safely during the Covid-19 pandemic and current lockdown.
- Stay at home if you are feeling ill or if someone in your household has symptoms.
- Keep updated on and respond to current government and NHS advice and updates: Government advice on coronavirus – general
NHS advice on coronavirus
NHS 111 symptom checker - If its essential to attend a community garden for maintenance work, keep a 2 metre distance from all people at all times.
- Limit the number of people attending a community garden work session (ideally two unless your site is large) to ensure physical distancing measures can be maintained. To ensure this you may need to implement a rota that allows a limited number of people to use the space at different times – including a time for only those classified as ‘vulnerable’ to access the space.
- Avoid having tea breaks together. Encourage people to bring their own drinks and snacks, and encourage attendees to wash their hands before eating – ideally with water and soap.
- Wear your own/ one pair of clean gloves and take them home to wash.
- Avoid long sessions where shared toilet facilities will be used.
- Wash the handles of tools with soapy water after finishing with them.
- Kindly encourage people to leave if they are not following your community garden’s agreed rules.
- Wash your hands thoroughly as soon as you get home
