Poly tunnels

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The school where I work as an Horticultural Therapist has been awarded some money for a poly tunnel to support my work with the students. It’s not a massive amount, £1,600, but I think with a bit of careful planning should be enough to purchase one. Maximum width is 5m, length, as long as possible. I would need help to construct it. The site is level and onto grass.

Does anyone have any suggestions or recommendations of companies that I could approach?

Many thanks
 
First Tunnels and Northern Polytunnels are the ones I've had experience with. Both have been good and seem to have an ok reputation generally.

James
 
My only advice is, like beesuits, but the best you can afford. Quality differs hugely
 
My only advice is, like beesuits, but the best you can afford. Quality differs hugely
A bit like “never mind the length, feel the quality”.
Strength of hoops, thickness of poly, no sharp edges / flanges-where the poly fits.
 
My only advice is, like beesuits, but the best you can afford. Quality differs hugely

This is very true. Cheap is undoubtedly going to be useless. You can save a small amount of money by going for a cover that is buried in a trench at each side of the tunnel, but it is more effort to do (I use a trench). Personally I'd not bother with the "anti-drip" coverings either. I've had both and it doesn't seem to make that much of a difference in my 30'x14' tunnel. Do use the hotspot tape though.

Some tunnels have fixings for the sides of the tunnel (instead of using a trench) that are wood and some metal. Wooden ones will eventually rot, but how long they'll last I don't know. They might well go on for years.

Crop bars are well worth the money in my opinion. I couldn't afford them when I bought mine and then had to bodge things when I added them about five years ago because the common tubing sizes appear to have changed, but I find them so useful now.

My tunnel doesn't have any ventilation unless the doors are open. Ideally I'd prefer it with hindsight, but it's not desperately bothered me in twenty years and is probably the sort of thing that a moderately competent bodger could add if necessary. I keep telling myself I'll do it when I next change the cover.

You definitely want at least one door (or set of doors) wide enough to get a wheelbarrow through, too.

Oh, buy some repair tape with the tunnel. At some point you're bound to need it (another reason for not using the anti-drip covers: repair tape doesn't stick to them very well).

James
 
Completely agree with james crop bars are a must and repair tape also make sure you get the buffer tape which you run on top of the tub/frame which helps because the frame gets very hot and will weaken the poly cover where it’s in contact with the frame, also get stability bars that are small cross members for the inside - I got mine from first tunnel, the frame was concreted into the ground and I still trenches the cover, you could have ventilation on one side which is on a ratchet wheel, also get the best poly cover you can from the outset and doors at both ends good luck my poly tunnel hasn’t moved in 15 odd years even on the wind swept hill
 
Thanks everyone for your suggestions. First Tunnels look interesting, they have constructed some tunnels locally for various schools. I will make contact and see what they can offer.
 

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