Gardening business owners have expressed their frustration over having to close during lockdown.

Landscape and gardening falls under the non-essential retail category outlined in the government’s regulations during the three-week circuit breaker lockdown.

Matthew Brindley, a self-employed landscape gardener, said that he had been given no warning or guidance by the government.

’I was rather frustrated and annoyed because I have a lot of work to catch up on and I can avoid close contact with people 100% in my job, being a solo trader,’ he said

’I understand that other businesses will have more employees, so measures should be made to restrict close proximity.

’I’m afraid any guidance concerning my area of employment has been very little, if none at all. I had to ring up to find out most of what I know.’

Mr Brindley has applied for the Manx Earnings Replacement Allowance scheme.

He has noticed that some golf courses are still allowed to be maintained, which he sees as unfair.

He said: ’My concerns are hoping that everyone, including government groundcare workers, golf course keepers etc, stick to the lockdown as firmly as my fellow gardeners and I have to.

’I know this was not the case last time and angered many of us due to the apparent favouritism, which frankly is understandable.

’I agree with the need for the lockdown and the restrictions implemented. I just desire fair rules for all.’

James Graham owns Groundcare in Foxdale and a timbering business, A1 Sheds.

He said that the lockdown restrictions have forced him to close both.

’The simple answer is we can’t stay open,’ he said. ’With the tightened restrictions we can’t be seen to be driving around working and can’t erect a shed at a customers house even though plenty of customers have contacted us who want us to carry out the work.

’My concern is that during the last lockdown, we took enquiries for new work, both landscaping work and also new orders for garden sheds and timber buildings probably every day.

’I think orders for 56 buildings from memory and possibly £30,000-worth of landscaping work. We haven’t even caught up with our work from last time, but we were making progress.

’This lockdown means that we are now behind again and it will take us even longer to catch up when we eventually return to work,’ he said.

Mr Graham said that the MERA scheme worked well for his businesses last time, but supplemented the salaries of staff and didn’t take into account other business running costs such as rent, electric, vehicle tax, public and employers liability insurance. He continued, ’These are big costs for any small business that all need paying monthly.

’I think certain businesses told to close could reopen using the necessary safety measures in place. I just don’t understand why we can’t continue to work if we do.’