TODAY is a momentous day in the history of our nation and one that many people have been waiting quite a considerable time for - the moment that garden centres across the country finally re-open.

I am sure there are people who have been counting down the days and no doubt thousands will pass through their doors stocking up on begonias, rose bushes and even a cheeky wee dwarf bonsai to celebrate.

Anglers, bowlers and golfers will also have cause to celebrate alongside gardeners as they too will see their restrictions lifted and be able to participate for the first time in months.

All of this means, of course, is that phase one of the easing of lockdown restrictions has begun and if all goes to plan and people keep social distancing, then phase 2 can begin in three weeks or so.

I suspect that no golf course will have seen so many peely wally, long haired golfers since the Bay City Rollers were in their heyday in the 1970’s.

Hairdressers, of course, cannot open until phase 3 meaning the population will have to live with the heavy metal look for a few more weeks yet.

But while the start of the journey towards a return to some sort of normality in a couple of months is to be welcomed after 11 odd weeks inside, it is also a time to reflect on why we all there in the first place.

We all must continue to play our part by washing our hands, socially distancing and not making unnecessary journeys to make sure the virus remains kept at bay.

Obviously these rules don’t apply if you are a driver with poor eyesight and your babysitter lives in County Durham.

But the rest of us must take responsibility to guide us to phase 2, where there is the added incentive of a drink and a meal while sitting outside in the pouring rain, having arrived there on bikes.

By October, when we’re all used to the new normal, we’ll be begging to be let back inside to get out of the wind and rain and when Christmas comes around we’ll all have perfected the art of drinking pints through a face mask while shouting at each other from six feet away.

Of course, there is a long way to go and there are no guarantees of success, but when things have settled down there must be a full inquiry into every aspect of how the pandemic was handled.

Many mistakes have been made and many lives have been lost as a result.

But they will not have all been in vain if we ensure they are not made again the next time a deadly pandemic strikes.