Polytunnel kits for schools
THE KITS... SECRET GARDEN | LITTLE ACORNS | BUSY BEES | DIG IT
FREE veg pack with every kit
15% 0ff
Hi, We are Northern Polytunnels. We have been designing, developing and manufacturing polytunnels since the 1960’s and we have recently developed a range of school kits. Our school kits have been created using the most suitable and durable of our products. There are four kits in the schools range The Secret Garden Kit, The Little Acorns Kit, The Busy Bees Kit and The Dig It Kit. The kits have a 15% discount on our normal prices giving every school an opportunity to have an area to grow. We know you don’t need a polytunnel to grow. We know you can grow in planters, grow bags or even an old toilet! What a polytunnel gives you is 365 days of weatherproof school gardening. When we build we build quality, we build a polytunnel that will be used by your children, their children and their children… well you get the idea. A polytunnel gives you an extra classroom that can be used whatever the weather, it will help educate children on growing and eating, which will give them skills and knowledge they can take into adulthood. Having a means to grow can also teach youngsters business skills; by setting up a stall at the end of the school day to sell their produce to parents or even local businesses...So get your kids growing it will benefit them for a lifetime.
2
Growing in a tunnel can fit into the curriculum too. From measuring the height of a tomato plant to writing a report on the activities in the polytunnel, growing can fit easily into Science, Math’s and English. It’s a shocking fact that the UK has the highest rate of obesity in Europe, with 96% of children not eating the recommended 5 portions of fruit and veg each day. In recent years there have been various campaigns for healthier eating in schools and this can only begin when children really understand what it is they are eating.
Polytunnels Our polytunnel kits are available in widths of 10’, 12’ and 14’ and various lengths, ensuring teaching and learning can be conducted in a comfortable environment. All our Polytunnel kits have double sliding doors which will allow for disabled access and ensure safety for little fingers. Polytunnels can be constructed on both soft and hard ground, simply swap our anchor plates (soil) for base plates (concrete). Raised Beds All our kits include timber raised beds. By using our unique corner and side bracket system, you can stack raised beds on top of each other creating the perfect working height. Our raised beds are manufactured from 145mm x 45mm Tanalith® E timber. Overhead Irrigation The Overhead Irrigation Kit will give you blanket coverage with overhead sprayers of the complete tunnel which is ideal for general vegetables and shrubs or any crop which will not be damaged with light rain on the foliage. An irrigation kit is ideal for schools, as it will allow low maintenance watering over the holidays. Construction You may choose to rally parents and teachers to build your new polytunnel or we have a team of constructors, please contact our team on 01282 873120 for more information.
3
Free Seed Starter Box with every kit
School Gardens can serve as living classrooms where children can apply academic subjects such as science, mathematics, languages and even art. Children can practice their social and life skills and learn, hands-on, how to grow healthy food and eat well.
4
“What on earth is an anchor plate?� We understand organising a school garden and ordering a polytunnel can sometimes be confusing. To help you we have compiled a list of jargon busters to help you understand what are in our kits.
Ground Tubes
Ground tubes are the foundation of your polytunnel. It is the ground tubes which are fixed directly to the floor and it is the ground tubes to which your polytunnel hoops are connected.
Ground Anchor Plates
Ground anchor plates are used when placing your tunnel on soft ground. A flat plate bolted to the ground tube at the bottom of the foundation hole, the ground anchor plate helps resist the forces exerted by strong winds.
Base Plates
Ground tubes can be supplied with base plates welded to them. This option is used when securing your polytunnel to a hard surface such as a concrete base.
Base Rails
Base rails run along the full length of the tunnel at ground level. The polythene is fixed to the base rail at both sides of your polytunnel. Base rails can be made from timber or from durable aluminium.
Crop Bars
Crop bars are a horizontal bar which runs from one side of each hoop to the other, above head height. They add extra strength to your polytunnel. They also provide a useful support for baskets or crops.
Ridge Bars
Ridge bars run the length of the roof area of your polytunnel and are used to hold the top of the hoops in position. They can run in the middle of the structure as a single ridge or they can run to either side of the tunnel as a double ridge. As well as adding strength, the double ridge allows a fixing point directly above your crops for extra crop support or for irrigation.
Anti-Hot Spot Tape
5
Anti-hot spot tape is used as a barrier between the hoops and the polythene of your polytunnel. On hot days the steel hoops can retain heat from the sun for quite a time. The anti-hot spot tape keeps the polythene from touching the steel, preventing heat damage to the cover.
SECRET GARDEN KIT Our Secret Garden Kit has been developed with cost in mind, but without scrimping on quality! This kit is ideal for schools on a limited budget that still want the benefits and enjoyment to growing your own fruit and vegetables in your own ‘Secret Garden’. The Secret Garden Kit includes... Single timber door frame with single timber sliding doors at both ends Timber base rails Ground anchor plates Crop bar kit Visqueen 720g clear polythene
6
Raised beds (8-15’ or 12-20’ polytunnel) Anti hot-spot tape Overhead Irrigation
Free Seed Starter Pack with every kit
LITTLE ACORNS KIT Our Little Acorns Kit is the mid range of our three kits, it has aluminium doors at both ends and has been chosen as one of our schools kits for its durability and quality.
The Little Acorns Kit includes... Single timber door frame with single aluminium sliding doors at both ends Timber base rails on both sides Ground anchor plates Crop bar kit Visqueen 720g clear polythene Raised beds (8-15’ or 12-20’ polytunnel) Anti hot-spot tape
7
Overhead Irrigation
“Great oaks from little acorns grow”
BUSY BEES KIT Our Busy Bees Kit is the most robust of our three kits. The Busy Bees Kit is ideal for busy little bees having aluminium doors, door frames and base rails this kit is designed to last. The Busy Bees Kit includes... Single aluminium door frames with single aluminium sliding doors at both ends Aluminium base rails on both sides Ground anchor plates Crop bar kits Raised beds (8-15’ or 12-20’ polytunnel)
8
Visqueen 720g clear polythene Anti hot-spot tape Overhead Irrigation
DIG IT KIT The Dig it Kit can be used on soil, concrete or tarmac it can be used 365 days a year with its weatherproof polythene cover. The kit is perfect for beginners. The advantage of using a Dig It Kit in school is that any area of land can be turned into a fertile growing environment including soil, tarmac or concrete and can be used 365 days a year. The Dig It Kit includes... Two raised beds that will make one double height kit in a size of your choice Available in 4’x4’, 4’x8’ or 4’x12’ Hoop kit 150g Polythene
“If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.” Marcus Tullius Cicero
9
FAQ’s
“Can a polytunnel go on a slope?”
A polytunnel can go on a slope within reason, the slope must however go along the length of the polytunnel and not the width. Will we need planning permission?
We always advise our customers to seek advice from their local council as each has its own rules and regulations. How long will the polythene last?
The polythene we supply are by bpi.visqueen and are all covered for 5 seasons. What size polytunnel will we need?
We have created our school kits in widths of 10,12 and 14’ and lengths of 15’ and 20’, this will allow enough space for raised beds and a pathway, the size you choose will depend on the amount of people you plan to have in at any one time and the age of the children, bigger children will need a bigger space. Can you provide a construction service?
We have a dedicated, long serving and trusted team of constructors, please contact us for more information on prices etc.
10
“However many years she lived, Mary always felt that ‘she should never forget that first morning when her garden began to grow’.” Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden
Funding We have added a 15% discount on our school kits but if you need help with funding here are some ideas to help.If you need to apply for any funding there are downloadable quotes available on our website.
Bake Sale Sports day Silly sock day Funky hair day School Fair Mums and Dads quiz night Disco Charity auction
11
Free Seed Starter Pack with every Kit
Photo courtesy of www.allotmentjunkie.com
Northern Polytunnels, Mill Green, Waterside Road, Colne, Lancashire, BB8 0TA Tel: 01282 873120 Fax: 01282 871733 Email: sales@npstructures.co.uk www.northernpolytunnels.co.uk