Rishi called at a local garden centre gearing up for a bumper Easter.
He dropped in at Strikes Garden Centre in Stokesley to hear how the business has fared during the pandemic and is preparing for what it hopes will be a record-breaking year.
While there, Rishi helped manager Caroline Scaife replenish stocks of vegetable seeds which have been particularly popular as the enthusiasm for growing your own developed during lockdown.
Caroline said it was set to be a record year for the centre which was only re-opened fully at the end of 2019 after a major fire had destroyed the centre the year before.
She said: “We had only been trading a few months when the first lockdown came in. We had a lot of new season plants that we just had to give away – to the elderly, staff at James Cook University Hospital and care homes.
“But as soon as we were able to re-open trading was strong as people re-discovered their gardens during the pandemic.
“We have seen a growing interest in people growing their own vegetables – that’s a definite trend in the last year.”
She added that the centre had taken on additional staff over and above the seasonal workers who would help during the peak spring and summer months.
Rishi said: “The completely rebuilt Strikes is most impressive as are their displays of new-season bedding and shrubs.
“It is great news to hear they are recruiting additional staff as the business develops on the back of people’s renewed enthusiasm for their gardens.”
The centre is open with Covid-safe shopping arrangements throughout the holiday weekend apart from Easter Sunday. A click and collect service is also available. The restaurant is temporarily closed.
