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Mar 2020

Last Updated: 23/03/2020

Sunday Update: Large weekend crowds force garden and reservoir closures

by Tamsin

| 22 Mar, 2020

RHS Harlow Carr follows the National Trust and closes - Yorkshire water urges people to stay away from its reservoirs

Today it was the turn of the district's parks and gardens to close after large visitors numbers over the past few days. The RHS announced it was shutting Harlow Carr in Harrogate today saying it was not able to ensure people adhered to social distancing measures. This follows a similar announcement yesterday from the National Trust that all its parks and gardens ,including Brimham Rocks and Fountains Abbey, would close from today.

In a Statement the RHS said:

After careful consideration, it is with great regret that the RHS has taken the sad decision to close our four RHS Gardens from today, Sunday 22 March.

Our online plant shop, rhsplants.co.uk continues to offer a wide selection of edible and ornamental plants.

Our utmost responsibility and concern is for the health and safety of our staff, members, visitors and volunteers. Yesterday was a very busy day at our gardens, and we felt we were no longer able to guarantee the Government’s requirement for social distancing.

Yorkshire Water also announced this afternoon it's shutting its reservoir car parks due to large number of visitors.

Unprecedented numbers of people have been out and about at our reservoirs this weekend. To help keep everyone safe and maintain social distancing, we’re shutting our reservoir car parks and asking everyone to stay away for a little while

Elsewhere church services across the region were streamed for people who stayed at home.

Some stores in Harrogate town centre cleared out stock last night as they took the decision to temporarily close.