Storm Dave

Gone with the Wind – Storm Dave

Over the Easter Bank Holiday, we received reports that Polytunnel 3 had been badly damaged during Storm Dave.

A member of staff inspected the damage to assess whether the structure could be saved, but unfortunately it was beyond repair.

While we expected the polytunnel would need some maintenance in the short to medium term, we had not anticipated the entire plastic roof being blown away.

Repairs and recovery

We had only just planted our tomato crops and were keen to protect them from frost. After obtaining quotes, Dale Farm Trust covered the repair costs, which ran into five figures. In addition to the plastic sheeting being torn away, the wooden battens used to secure the roof also required substantial repair and replacement.

We are very grateful to Nigel at National Tunnels for responding so quickly and completing the repairs in such a short time.

Tomato crop update

Our tomato crop is now back under cover and growing well.

We are growing a range of tomato varieties, including:

• Plum tomatoes
• Cherry tomatoes
• Red varieties
• Yellow varieties

We will let you know when they are ready.