Christmas displays return to The Gardens Group, reimagined and rebuilt to keep the season safe and special

The Gardens Group has announced plans for the return of its award-winning Christmas displays in Sherborne, Yeovil and Poundbury next month, including a comprehensive range of new measures designed to keep families safe and socially distanced as they soak up the festivities and get transported to magical winter wonderlands.

While this year’s themes remain tightly under wraps, as director Louise Burks and her team put the finishing touches on displays they’ve been planning since January, The Gardens Group has revealed the steps being taken to ensure that visitors can enjoy the experience with confidence. Every element has been carefully reviewed with safety in mind and new measures include additional space within the displays, reorganised routes to avoid congestion, hand sanitising points before and after each display, extra tills to reduce queuing, one-way systems and two-metre markings to help guide social distancing.

With the ever popular opening night events unable to take place this year, due to the huge numbers that regularly gather for this annual spectacle, The Gardens Group is encouraging people to consider visiting at quieter times of day over the coming weeks. To help with this, the restaurants at each garden centre will be offering extended breakfast and afternoon tea menus, so customers can enjoy the full experience at any time of the day. Marquees have also been erected to provide additional space at all three restaurants and at The Apple Tree Farm Shop, allowing everyone plenty of room as they share in the joy of festive food and drink.

Promising inspirational themes, unique products and plenty of Christmas cheer, The Gardens Group’s award-winning displays will be open seven days a week, up to and including Christmas Eve, from the following dates:

Poundbury Gardens, Dorchester - Thursday 1 October

Brimsmore Gardens, Yeovil - Thursday 8 October

Castle Gardens, Sherborne - Friday 16 October

For more information about The Gardens Group, visit www.thegardensgroup.co.uk.