Coronavirus (COVID-19): community food-growing spaces

Overview

This guidance applies to outdoor community food-growing sites. This includes all forms of community food-growing sites such as community gardens and allotment sites, including communal growing areas of allotment sites. The guidance applies to all visitors, users and volunteers of community food-growing sites.

Any employees of community food-growing sites should follow the guidance contained in the Science & Advice for Scottish Agriculture guidance to the horticulture, fruit and vegetable sector and the Scottish Government’s returning to work safely guidance.

The following documents provide background information that should be taken into account when considering these guidelines:

• The Coronavirus (COVID-19) Scotland’s route map and associated documents details Scotland’s phased approach through and out of the COVID-19 crisis 
• The Coronavirus (COVID-19): Scotland’s Strategic Framework document sets out the strategic approach to suppress the virus to the lowest possible level and keep it there, while we strive to return to a more normal life for as many people as possible
• The Coronavirus (COVID-19): local protection levels sets out information on what you can and cannot do at each level

Local authorities and others with responsibility for community food-growing sites may have these sites open, subject to compliance with this guidance.    

People who should not visit a community food-growing site

Anyone who should self-isolate, e.g. because they or a member of their household have COVID-19 symptoms, or they have been advised that they have been in contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19, should follow the NHS Inform guidance and must stay at home for the period of their self-isolation and not attend a community food-growing site. Follow the guidance on self-isolation on NHS Inform.  

The NHS will also now be asking people to self-isolate who do not have symptoms, but have been in close contact with someone who has been confirmed by testing to have the virus. This is part of Test and Protect - Scotland’s approach to implementing the 'test, trace, isolate, support' strategy.  Read more about Test and Protect.

People at higher risk from Coronavirus (including people aged over 70, people who are pregnant and people with an underlying medical condition) should strictly follow physical distancing guidance.

Onsite attendance and safety at community food-growing sites

The measures contained in this guidance should, where practicable, be communicated to volunteers and users of community food-growing spaces in advance of their attendance.  Local authorities and others with responsibility for community food-growing sites should ensure the following points are adhered to onsite.

Tool sharing

The sharing of tools, gloves etc. is strongly discouraged due to the risk of transmission of COVID-19. Users and volunteers at sites should be encouraged to bring their own gloves.  Any onsite tools should be disinfected after each use.

Communal activities/events

Indoor and outdoor communal activities are only permitted if they comply with the limits on the number of people and households that can meet indoors and outdoors in the area where the site is located, according to that area’s protection level.

Where a communal activity takes place outdoors, children under 12 do not count towards the maximum number of households or number of people who can participate. Where a communal activity takes place indoors, children under 12 do not count towards the maximum number of people who can participate but the household limit still applies. Children do not have to physically distance.

Where a communal activity takes place outdoors and consists of people all of whom are under 18, but at least one of whom is at least 12, the maximum number of people that can participate is unchanged, but there is no household limit. Physical distancing is still required for those aged 12 and over.

There are some exceptions to the restriction on numbers of people and households in certain circumstances set out in the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Regulations 2020.

Any communal activities should comply with physical distancing and there should be no sharing of food or utensils onsite.

Physical distancing

Compliance with physical distancing of 2 metres including, if necessary, limiting the number of people within the site at any one time and/or considering a one-way system within the site (together with any necessary signage).

Hand hygiene

People attending a community food-growing site should be reminded of the importance of handwashing before leaving home to travel to the site, and handwashing as soon as they return home. Encourage compliance with hand hygiene guidance onsite, e.g. providing hand sanitiser or suitable hand wash facilities.

Cleaning and sanitising

Regular cleaning and sanitising of any communal or frequently used areas e.g. taps and gates. The risk of transmission of COVID-19 at communal areas such as taps and gates should be highlighted via adequate signage.

Signage

Provide adequate signage to reinforce the 2 metre physical distancing, hand hygiene, cough/sneeze etiquette, COVID-19 transmission and cleaning/sanitising of communal area messages.

Travel to site

People should take account of local protection levels and carefully consider and comply with the Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance on travel and transport and the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 when deciding whether they should travel to a site.

People living in a Level 3 or 4 area must not travel outside that area unless they have a reasonable excuse, and people who do not live in a level 3 or 4 must not travel to such an area unless they have a reasonable excuse. People should be encouraged, when they are travelling to a site, to do so via active travel methods such as walking or cycling, or in their own car and only with members of their own household. People should be advised to think carefully whether they need to use public transport for travel to the site.

Polytunnels/greenhouses

The use of face coverings in polytunnels and greenhouses should be encouraged where physical distancing is challenging. Air vents should be opened to maximise air flow. People must not congregate in a polytunnel, greenhouse or other onsite indoor space and the restrictions on numbers of people and households for indoor communal activities apply.

Disabled people and children and young people

Provide appropriate support disabled people and children and young people onsite to ensure that they are able to comply with this guidance.

Further guidance

The information contained in this document is provided as guidance only. It does not provide legal advice. We will keep this guidance under review and update it as required. Scottish Government and other sources of advice regarding COVID-19 can be accessed via the following links:

• Coronavirus (COVID-19): what you need to know
• NHS Inform guidance
• Guidance to the horticulture, fruit and vegetable sector

There is also helpful and relevant guidance contained in Scottish Community Development Centre’s advice for community groups, organisations and volunteer networks fighting COVID-19.