We are going to install a polytunnel just behind the outbuilding – where the old chicken shed used to be. It was Jo’s Christmas present last year, but we haven’t had the time to put it up. With the outbuilding now re-roofed, and most of the stripping out complete in the cottages, it is time to put the poly tunnel up. I have never done this before, but how difficult can it be!
The polytunnel is 8ft x 20ft – it is exactly the same size as the chicken shed that it is replacing. From what I can understand, the polytunnel should not be placed in direct sunlight (they simply get too hot) and have some protection from the elements (so having some protection from the wind). In which case, the site of the old chicken shed makes a lot of sense. It is also close to the house, but out of the way of any building work. I also purchased a polytunnel that could be moved – rather than the sides of the polytunnel being buried in a trench (to keep the sides down), this version has wooden boards attached to the bottom of the side sheeting. So if it is in the wrong place, it can all be moved. Let’s hope it isn’t!
The polytunnel was purchased from First Tunnels (www.firsttunnels.co.uk). The site contains full sets of instructions and videos on how to construct and site your polytunnel and this looks like the right place to start.
Just in case you don’t know what a polytunnel looks like!
The first job is to dig over the ground underneath the old chicken shed. It is fairly compact and has a fair amount of debris covering it. I did consider hiring a rotivator, but thought the ground might be just too compacted.
It took all day on Sunday to turnover the ground. It was hard work. I haven’t attempted to level the ground yet, just turned the soil over.
This is the site of the old chicken shed, just behind the re-roofed outbuilding. The large slab in the front of the camera is the step into the chicken shed. We will reuse this with the polytunnel.
Digging over this patch of land is hard work – by hand!
The ground is now dug over (removing any large stones and debris), but it needs to be levelled next.
Another view of the ground all turned over and ready to be levelled. The back wall on the outbuilding is now starting to dry out since the gutter and the rainwater pipe have been installed.