The floods seen across the UK in June and July have served as the best possible PR campaign for the polytunnel debate, NFU West Midlands horticultural chairman Anthony Snell told visitors to the NFU tent at Fruit Focus last week.
He said most of the UK’s fruit farmers would have lost their crops and livelihoods if it were not for the protection provided.
“It shows how important these temporary structures are when, even through flooding and dreadful weather, we were able to keep on picking our fruit,” said Snell. “Without polytunnels this summer, the industry would have been set back 15 years.”
He called for farmers to act responsibly by investing in green polythene for their tunnels and keeping the structures out of sight.
Snell praised the LEAF Open Farm Sunday campaign and encouraged fellow growers to welcome the public into their fields to demonstrate how important polytunnels are. “It is amazing how so many people don’t know what a polytunnel is like,” he added.
David Glasson, NFU planning consultant and speaker at the debate, admitted that the rules surrounding polytunnel applications are still ambiguous. “I advise any grower in this situation to get professional planning advice, write a planning support statement - tell them exactly why you need it - and consult, or pacify, your neighbours,” he said. “Most importantly, don’t start putting up your tunnels before you get planning permission.”
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