HRH The Prince of Wales Opens HDRA’s New Vegetable Kingdom
Winter- Spring 2004
Alitex were delighted to be asked to provide a substantial greenhouse as
the focal point for the Vegetable Inspirations Garden, part of the new
gardens and visitor centre at the Henry Doubleday Research Association,
organic garden at Ryton, near Coventry.
This huge project cost around £2 million and was inspired by Jackie Gear,
(then co-director of HDRA) and brought to fruition by Jackie and Alan
Gear, and the team at HDRA. The Vegetable Kingdom includes an
interactive Visitor Centre, a new Heritage
Seed Library and new gardens.
The new greenhouse is 9.5 metres long
and 4.3 metres wide, with two feature
entrance lobbies, traditional benching at
one end and external cold frames at
the other.
The greenhouse comes with a number
of features that will make it easier
to run, including electric fully automated
vents, external reflective shading, and
cold frames with vents through to the
greenhouse.
Alitex have been proud sponsors of the
HDRA for 7 years and during that time
have got to know Jackie and Alan well.
Their dedication and enthusiasm for
HDRA for the last 30 years has seen it
grow from a small charity in Essex, to the
large, world renowned organization it is
today - with three gardens - Ryton,
Yalding in Kent and Audley End near
Saffron Walden, Essex.
Sadly, Alan and Jackie decided to leave
HDRA at the end of last year, to give
themselves time to do other things and
we wish them all the best. Susan
Kay-Williams has taken over as Chief
Executive.
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