Interesting Links

Dig It Projects - Helping to create an outdoor classroom
These garden projects highlight many benefits such as “Healthy Eating and Lifestyles”, but also allows children to escape the everyday indoor classroom environment. Some of the children may respond better to being outdoors and the more “hands on” approach to learning, rather than the obvious restraints of a conventional classroom.
DIG IT Projects has been designing and installing “Allotment style Gardens” into schools and community networks to allow the children and parents to GROW their OWN fresh fruit and vegetables. www.digitprojects.com 

Find us on Facebook
First Tunnels Polytunnels have created this Facebook group for the increasing number of polytunnel owners (or for our American fans – Hoophouses) that have grown over the past decade. Share construction tips, growing advice, swap recipes, enter competitions and enjoy other fun things. www.facebook.com/polytunnels 

A collection of Polytunnel videos
We have uploaded construction videos, growing tips and general advice for all things polytunnel related. Feel free to email us with any interesting videos you find or upload your own and we'll add it to our site. www.youtube.com/polytunnels  

Follow us on Twitter
Get short, timely messages from First Tunnels. Twitter is a social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read messages known as tweets.  We'll welcome your tweets. www.twitter.com/firsttunnels 

A collection of Polytunnel Photos
Flickr is the biggest repository of photos on the web.  We have created a group www.flickr.com/groups/polytunnels to allow people to share their polytunnel photos.  Some interesting and also rather quirky images have been uploaded. If you scroll down to the bottom of this page we have a slideshow of some of the images.

Polytunnel Gardening Blog
A blog to encourage users to share photos, videos, hints and tips to all things related to utililing your polytunnel fully. Find suppliers, download assembly instructions, or simply chat to fellow bloggers. www.polytunnelgardening.co.uk

Organic Farm & Online Store
Attitude Organics is a 100% Organic farm based in Hintlesham, Suffolk.  At Attitude Organics they are passionate about the environment, the reduction of carbon footprints and the importance of ethical, sustainable farming.  They also believe in the importance of healthy and clean living, and have sourced a fantastic range of both food and household products. Go and check them out sometime!
www.attitudeorganics.co.uk

The Garden Marketplace
If you need anything for your garden, then this website is for you. Many UK Online Garden Stores can be found within.
www.garden-marketplace.co.uk

Allotment TV
The Allotment Channel is the premier internet television channel devoted soley to Allotments. With regularly added features containing tricks and tips, advice on growing, maintaining and other features of interest to Allotment gardeners, it is not surprising that this is the number one Allotment Channel on the internet.

www.allotmenttv.co.uk

Metcheck
Very useful website for all things weather related.  Click on the link and it will show you the weather in your area.  Very useful when trying to plan a day for covering your Polytunnel!
www.metcheck.com

Act On CO2 Calculator
Using a polytunnel will significantly reduce the quantity of fruit and vegetables you need to buy, avoiding the associated food miles, energy costs and packaging. To see how your lifestyle compares with the national average, try measuring your CO2 emissions. Will also provide you with practical tips in order to reduce your emissions
http://actonco2.direct.gov.uk

Tunnel Facts
Today the polytunnel is used to protect 80% of soft fruit (tomatoes, strawberries, raspberries & blackberries) sold through supermarkets.  You have probably eaten a fruit that has been grown under polythene. Polytunnels also protect onions, potatoes, peppers, cucumbers, melons, lettuce, beans and flowers.... the list is endless. Take a look at this website to see how Polytunnels are benefiting UK Farmers and Growers.
www.tunnelfacts.co.uk

Growing School Scheme
Everyone knows children would rather be out than in.  The guys at this site know about the importance of the outside classroom. They have loads of good ideas about funding for school gardens and outdoor training, and they also provide helpful information about health and safety and linking the outdoors with the National Curriculum.
www.teachernet.gov.uk/growingschools

Schools Organic Network
A nationwide campaign help by the HDRA, which helps children grow vegetables at school and learn more about their food. By setting up small gardens in or near school grounds, children can learn about how food is produced and its links with the countryside. It also helps teach them how to enjoy eating a wide range of vegetables as part of a healthy diet.
www.gardenorganic.org.uk/schools_organic_network

River Cottage
We loved the television series and the book. Now we have Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's excellent site. Hugh is definitely at the forefront of sustainable living.  Many champions of the ‘Organic’ and ‘Self Sufficiency’ movement own Polytunnels including ‘Hugh’.
www.www.rivercottage.net

Big Barn
Big Barn is the UK's no.1 local food website. Simply enter your postcode and it will help you to find good, safe, accountable food from local sources. Our country produces some of the best food in the world and this site will help you to find the market that it deserves. From Cornish Yarg to Arbroath Smokies, the scene is as rich as it is diverse.
www.bigbarn.co.uk