Highland hidden gem ready for visitors once again as Inverness Botanic Gardens and Nursery reopens on Monday as coronavirus lockdown is eased
The Inverness Botanic Gardens and Nursery team members have not only been working hard during lockdown, keeping the city gardens in pristine condition, but they are now planning to join High Life Highland’s bounceback campaign to reopen safely and allow visitors to enjoy the gardens from Monday.
Ewan Mackintosh, the site manager said: “We are looking forward to see visitors back at the gardens from Monday as part of our bounceback campaign.
"Our priority is the safety of our customers and staff, while still providing an enjoyable experience when people come to visit this city attraction.”
The gardens will be open seven-days a week, from 10am to 4pm, with the last entry at 3pm.
To help manage capacity, avoid congestion, assist customer-flow, avoid pinch-points and reduce queueing times, visitors will be required to pre-book a time slot online.
In order to ensure customer safety and recognition of the Scottish Government guidelines, there will be 10 slots available every 15 minutes which will be available to book online in advance by going to the website.
In addition, social distancing measures will be in place throughout the gardens as well as hand sanitising stations provided for customer and staff use.
Mr Mackintosh said: “We are all delighted to once again be able to share the gardens with our many visitors. We have taken this lockdown opportunity to refresh and refurbish our newly branded CafeBotanics which will now be operated in-house by the charity.
"And although our food outlet and our toilets will remain closed for the time being while the refurbishment work is completed; we have been able to make arrangements to ensure take away teas coffees and snacks and refreshments will be available from our mobile catering facility for our returning visitors.”
Councillor Graham Ross, Depute Provost and leader of Inverness and area committee, said: “The gardens are in full bloom and looking great just now, it is a credit to the staff who have done a tremendous job keeping everything ticking over during lockdown.
"The opening of Inverness Botanic Gardens provides another positive step towards returning to some normality and I am sure the systems put in place will be supported by residents and visitors to the area.”