Champions of Sustainable Growing
The Polytunnel Pioneers are experts in polytunnel growing, each with a unique specialty that helps gardeners make the most of their space. From no-dig gardening to edible landscapes, market gardening to resilient growing techniques, they bring years of experience and passion to their craft. Follow them on social media for hints, tips, advice, and inspiration to enhance your growing journey.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced gardener, their knowledge will help you cultivate success in your polytunnel.
Huw Richards
Huw Richards is a dynamic voice in modern gardening, known for making organic vegetable growing accessible, youthful, and engaging. Starting his YouTube channel, Huws Nursery, at just 12 years old, he has since gained a global following with millions of views and several best selling books like Veg in One Bed. Rooted in a self-sufficient lifestyle in Wales, Huw champions permaculture, sustainability, and community growing, inspiring a new generation to discover the joy and empowerment of growing your own food.
Charles Dowding
Charles Dowding is the leading voice behind the no-dig gardening movement, proving that healthier soil leads to stronger plants with less effort. His polytunnel showcases how no-dig principles apply to all scales of growing, from small gardens to commercial farms. With half a million YouTube subscribers and millions of blog views, his videos offer time-saving tips, organic methods, and expert advice.
Becky Searle
Becky Searle is a grow-your-own gardener with a deep-rooted passion for sustainable, no-dig, and wildlife-friendly gardening. Trained as an ecologist, she combines her scientific knowledge with hands-on experience to promote healthy soil, biodiversity, and natural growing methods. Becky champions gardening in harmony with nature, focusing on ecological principles that support resilient, productive gardens. Through her podcast The Seed Pod, writing for leading gardening magazines, and social media as Sow Much More, she encourages others to grow food in ways that nurture both the earth and the gardener.
Becky's book Grow a New Garden takes you through every step you need to take to plan, design and create your garden in a way that is organic and positive for the environment.
Richard Perkins
Richard Perkins is a pioneer in profitable regenerative farming, inspiring growers worldwide with his no-nonsense approach to system design. Through his YouTube channel, blog, and online courses, he shares insights into making farming efficient and sustainable. His work has helped thousands of farmers improve productivity while staying environmentally conscious.
Stephanie Hafferty
With over 30 years of experience, Stephanie Hafferty is an award-winning writer, educator, and speaker specialising in seasonal, plant-based food that can be grown at home. As a no-dig kitchen gardener and edible garden consultant, she offers expert advice on growing and using fresh, organic produce.
Stephanie runs gardening and homesteading courses at her garden in Wales, and in other locations nationally and internationally. Her third book The Productive Garden is published in March 2026.
Stephanie’s website: www.nodighome.com
Kim Stoddart
As well as editing Amateur Gardening magazine, Kim is an expert on resilient methods of gardening and polytunnel growing. She has been running courses on growing under cover since 2013 and features many hints and tips in her books, especially her latest The Climate Change Resilient Vegetable Garden. Kim won practical gardening journalist of the year (2024) and environmental journalist awards with the prestigious Garden Media Guild for her work helping gardeners to grow food no matter the weather using the latest nature-friendly methods.
Liz Zorab
Liz Zorab champions a sustainable, low-impact approach to gardening, rooted in permaculture principles, no-dig methods, and natural ecosystems. Her style blends companion planting, biodiversity, and animal integration, creating spaces that are both productive and wildlife-friendly. After overcoming health challenges, Liz embraced gardening as a healing, empowering practice. Through her award-winning YouTube channel, blog, and bestselling book Grounded, she shares honest, practical advice to help others grow abundantly—with or without a large plot of land.
John Harrison
Dubbed “Britain’s greatest allotment authority,” John Harrison has published nine books on growing your own food. His deep knowledge of self-sufficiency and polytunnel cultivation makes him a must-follow for anyone looking to maximise their homegrown produce.
Join The Polytunnel Growing Community
Looking for a place to share your polytunnel successes, tips, and advice? These Facebook groups are thriving communities where growers exchange knowledge, post photos of their crops, and discuss the best gardening techniques. Whether you’re interested in no-dig gardening or simply want to connect with fellow polytunnel enthusiasts, these groups offer a space to learn, inspire, and grow together.
