A POLITICIAN is calling on the Welsh Government to reopen garden centres.

Darren Millar, MS for Clwyd West, is highlighting the positive impact of gardening on both physical and mental health and wellbeing.

While garden centres have been allowed to stay open in England and Scotland during the latest lockdown, in Wales they are not listed as essential, so have been closed since the First Minister announced the third lockdown days before Christmas.

Mr Millar said: "Garden centres in Wales should have a level playing field with those in England and be allowed to open.

"There are huge benefits for people’s physical and mental health and wellbeing that can be derived from gardening and it would also help businesses survive the economic storm caused by the pandemic.

"There are a number of fantastic garden centres in North Wales that are struggling to survive.

"It is therefore grossly unfair that they are not able to sell their goods while the big supermarkets sell plants, weedkillers and other goods in their stores and are making record breaking profits."

All of Wales is in lockdown (alert level 4).