Monty Don despises them; British growers love them. Polytunnels have transformed the lives and businesses of producers of soft fruits such as strawberries and raspberries, helping them to start production earlier and to extend seasons for longer - all the while protecting their plants from the changeable British weather.
But campaigners, led by Don, believe they are ruining the appearance of the countryside. Last year, the celebrity gardener, who lives close to a large polytunnel site, was quoted as saying: “You have polytunnels sort of raping the landscape - it is pure vandalism.”
Now growers’ leaders are launching a charm offensive in a bid to stave off protesters’
claims, which they fear could lead to strict curtailment of polytunnel use or, worse, a ban.
Officials at the National Farmers’ Union and the British Summer Fruits Association have drawn up a code of practice specifically for members who use polytunnels, which consist of large plastic sheets erected over long runs of metal hoops.
Under the terms of the code, growers are asked to consider using “less luminous” types of plastic to reduce the visual impact on the landscape.
Areas covered by the code include the siting of polytunnels. Guidelines stipulate that they should be located at least 30 metres from nearby houses and that all reasonable care should be taken to minimise noise before 7am and after 8pm.
The code has been sent to Assured Produce, which operates the Red Tractor farm assurance scheme for growers. The NFU and BSFA have recommended that it form part of the scheme’s protocols for soft fruit production. If accepted, the code should be in place for the 2006 growing season.
An NFU spokesman said the code would be used to support the use of polytunnels by the fresh produce sector.
Richard Clarke
But campaigners, led by Don, believe they are ruining the appearance of the countryside. Last year, the celebrity gardener, who lives close to a large polytunnel site, was quoted as saying: “You have polytunnels sort of raping the landscape - it is pure vandalism.”
Now growers’ leaders are launching a charm offensive in a bid to stave off protesters’
claims, which they fear could lead to strict curtailment of polytunnel use or, worse, a ban.
Officials at the National Farmers’ Union and the British Summer Fruits Association have drawn up a code of practice specifically for members who use polytunnels, which consist of large plastic sheets erected over long runs of metal hoops.
Under the terms of the code, growers are asked to consider using “less luminous” types of plastic to reduce the visual impact on the landscape.
Areas covered by the code include the siting of polytunnels. Guidelines stipulate that they should be located at least 30 metres from nearby houses and that all reasonable care should be taken to minimise noise before 7am and after 8pm.
The code has been sent to Assured Produce, which operates the Red Tractor farm assurance scheme for growers. The NFU and BSFA have recommended that it form part of the scheme’s protocols for soft fruit production. If accepted, the code should be in place for the 2006 growing season.
An NFU spokesman said the code would be used to support the use of polytunnels by the fresh produce sector.
Richard Clarke
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