ALLOTMENTS in all five Gwent counties have remained open during the coronavirus crisis, despite the closure of some parks and cemeteries - and councils have issued advice on the rules around them.

Newport City Council has said that visiting an allotment “counts as your daily exercise”. As going to an allotment is considered a non-essential journey, councils have also said only those who are able to walk to them should do so.

As with the wider society, any plot-holder who is either ill themselves of self-isolating because a household member is ill should not be visiting the site for 14 days.

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Newport council has said that the water in the allotments has been switched off until lockdown measures ease, and toilets on sites are closed. Likewise, tool sharing is also not allowed.

Only those with individual plots are able to use allotments in Newport during the pandemic - members who have group plots will have to wait until the lockdown measures are eased.

Blaenau Gwent council has said allotment visits should be as short as possible.

Those who want to take their children to their plot as part of their daily exercise may do so - but youngsters must stay within the plot itself.

Allotment users have been advised to “exercise caution when using gates and padlocks”.

Torfaen council has suggested “using gloves when operating them”.

Plot inspections are not currently taking place in Gwent until further notice.