Haskins, with centres in Dorset, Hampshire and West Sussex, endorsed and promoted the government-backed ‘Purple Tuesday’.

Purple Tuesday was the UK’s first ever accessible shopping day, aimed at getting retailers to take all kinds of disability seriously, as well as recognise the needs of disabled consumers and promote inclusive shopping.

Lisa Looker, brand director at Haskins Garden Centre, commented: “At Haskins, we make it a priority to cater for those with a disability or impairment – not just on the allocated Purple Tuesday, but all the time. All the aisles in our centres are wider than standard, to facilitate the use of wheelchairs and we are pleased to have wheelchairs available in all our centres for anybody that requires one.

“If you haven’t visited us before, you’ll be surprised at how wide the spaces in our car parks are and how flat the grounds are. Customers often say how much of a difference this makes to their overall experience and we’re pleased that these changes improve accessibility to our centres.”

All four Haskins centres focus on having as much natural light as possible. With large windows and roof lights, Haskins is able to offer a consistent level of light throughout its centres, rather than varying shades of bright and dark.

Lisa added: “Our staff are trained in customer service and will always go that extra mile to help those in need. We are more than happy to help carry your shopping to your car or help carry your tray in the restaurant.”

According to disability organisation, Purple, nearly one in every five people in the UK has a disability or impairment and over half of households in the UK have a connection to someone with a disability. The initiative is being co-ordinated by Purple, with leading brands Marks & Spencer, Asda and Sainsbury’s all pledging their support already.