Brexit forces garden centre to give away £100,000 worth of plants for free

Brexit forces garden centre to give away £100,000 worth of plants for free, to avoid just throwing the plants away.

The Plants Galore garden centres in Plymouth, Newton Abbot and Exeter are set to give away a hundred thousand pounds’ worth of plants on first come first served basis. Due to Brexit, they just cannot get the staff to help them look after the plants so they would rather give them away, than have to throw them away.

Matt Pollard, team leader told Devon live: “In any usual year we would return these plants to our nursery to cut them back and grow them on for future years.

“This year it is simply not an option as like many businesses in our sector and the region we can’t find enough staff to work at our nurseries.

“It is a constant battle to recruit skilled staff in the current climate resulting in this decision to simply give the plants away.

“With the advent of Brexit and the departure of many European staff from the UK, we are suffering the same problem as many other businesses in the South West in finding suitable staff who want to work.”

The centres are always on the hunt for people who are good with plants. Matt hit out at the government for the lack of support in finding EU workers post-Brexit.

“We also need a sensible government scheme for horticulture to employ European staff on a seasonal or contract basis if UK workers don’t want this type of work,” said Matt.

“We hope the giveaway of these plants will allow our customers the opportunity to pick up some free plants. There’s no catch – simply turn up and load your car with as many plants as you get fit in,

“First come first served. We just need to move the plants on to a good home.”

The free plan giveaway starts on Friday, August 13 at 8 AM.

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