17
THECOMMERCIAL GREENHOUSEGROWER • MAY 2018
NURSERY 6ISIT •
piping andhydrants connecting the automated irrigation
system. Thismeans that the nursery has a 100per cent
selM s\MfiJieU[ ^a[eY s\WWl` ;Oe^a[eY MYVT [Oe Ua[\Yall`
Jla` liUed YeseY]ViYs is fil[eYed [OYV\NO
5VYMVlR Yeeds
and then cleanedwith chlorinebeforebeing re-usedon
the stockbeds. The reservoirs naturally provide a superb
habitat for wildlife and twenty-four different species have
been countedwithmany birds, even cormorants and
owls, beingpresent. There is also a snakewhich lives in
the compost! Two areas of 9 acres and 15 acres of wild
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around the site - the honey is a nicebonus for the staff. All
of these contribute to the unique and varied ecosystem at
the nursery.
The environmental aspects of the operation are a source
of great pride to the company and they havewon awards
for these over the years. There are solar panels to
provide 10,000 kW (50per cent of the energy required)
for theproduction anddespatchbuildings and these
also feedback into theNational Grid. LED lightswhich
are activatedbymotion sensors are a saving and they
calculate that thismeasure alone saves some 6.2 tonnes
of Co2 every year. As an alternative toplasticpackaging,
sOYeddedWaWeY ^OiJO JVTes MYVT [OeiY V^UVMfiJe as
well as from local businesses and schools is used. In
addi[iVU [V [OeiY V^U laUd\sed MVY [Oe fieldNYV^UIaYe
YVV[ WeYeUUials /V^aYd»s alsV lease UeaYI` fields [V
helpwith crop rotation and soil quality. In addition, a
ChristineHoward.
DavidHoward.
MarcelWillems.
2018Summer
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