19
S
ALADS
•
THECOMMERCIALGREENHOUSEGROWER • JANUARY 2017
W
hen
Thanet Earth
announced details
of development of a
fifth glasshouse on its site in
Kent, which is now nearing
the end of construction,
therewould have
undoubtedly been a high
level of interest from around
the industry as towhat form
the glasshousewould take
both inside and out.
The Thanet Earth project
has been pushing the
boundaries of best practice
and driving efficiencies ever
since its conception seven
years ago, leading theway in
developing new production
techniques in amodern and
vibrant approach to
commercial growing under
glass.
Phase one of the
construction on the site saw
three glasshouses being
built, with their first harvests
in 2009. In 2012 a fourth one
was constructed specifically
for tomato growing. All four
of these glasshouses
included use of some of the
most advanced and efficient
technology and now a new
glasshousewill make sure
the strive for perfection
continues.
The business case for the
fifth glasshousewas simple.
According to the company, it
was also an important
strategic one for the industry.
Following the news that one
of the country’s largest
growers, Cornerways
Nursery is to stop growing
tomatoes, Thanet Earth hope
this new development will go
someway to replacing that
loss in UK production.
In the future the company
also hopes to utilise the
glasshouse for growing
cucumbers.
Thanet Earth’s research has
indicated that since 1990,
Thanet Earth’s fifth glasshouse is near to completion and the company aims to reverse the
decline inUK cucumber production over the next few years. Adrian Tatum reports.
Thanet Earth project moves into phase five
MAKE LIFE EASIERWITHRELIABLEMANAGEMENT INFORMATION
TheThanetEarthproject has beenpushing theboundaries of best practice anddriving
efficiencies ever since its conception.
