Cosy greenhouse classroom for acquired brain injury centre

Client

Angela Stanley - South Worcestershire College

Cosy greenhouse classroom for acquired brain injury centre

“Having the new Keder greenhouse has been great for staff and students. This outside facility has provided us with new opportunities and has helped us all to focus our interest when trying to move forward with our existing garden project. The Mypex flooring really works well with our students some of which are working from wheelchairs or walk with the aid of a walking stick. The greenhouse is very accessible whether it is being used for shelter, teaching, growing or storage!”

Angela Stanley
Head of ABI Education Service
South Worcestershire College

https://www.sworcs.ac.uk

“It has created another classroom but in an outside environment. We can grow on a much bigger scale now and all year round if we want to!”

Steve,
ABI Student

“In contrast to a traditional ‘glasshouse’ I find the Keder a much cosier and inviting environment to work in, especially during colder weather. Having ventilation panels in the sides, is more convenient than overhead and provides adequate cooling during warmer spells.”

Cliff,
ABI Student

The Academy comprises of an array of full time, substantive part time and short courses across a wide ranging curriculum. The Care Academy also includes the specialist areas of the Acquired Brain Injury Education Service and the Foundation Skills Programmes.

About the Acquired Brain Injury Education Service (ABIES)

This facility provides individual learning programmes designed for students with an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI).

Around 1,000,000 people per year in the UK are disabled by a head injury. The Acquired Brain Injury Education Service (ABIES) offers a wealth of experience of the nature of ABI.

There are programmes which cover living with a brain injury, leisure skills, practical/vocational skills, healthy living and individual support programmes. There is also the opportunity to move between other programmes in the Centre and the main College.

The Centre also provides a “Transitions Programme”. This is designed for young adults with an ABI and is largely focused on developing personal and social skills and helping the young person understand and adjust to the consequences of a brain injury. The ABI is part funded by the Acquired Aphasia Charitable Trust.

For further information on our range of greenhouse and polytunnel installations available, or to discuss your unique requirements, please contact us today on: 01386 49096, or email us at: sales@kedergreenhouse.co.uk.

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A true community project

Client

Dunchurch Allotment Association

A true community project

Dunchurch Allotment Association’s application to the National Lotterey was to increase the capacity for allotment holders by extending the seasons in which allotmenteers can pursue their food producing activities in a more sheltered growing environment. It was decided that a large communal greenhouse/polytunnel would allow individuals to start plants off earlier in the season, grow more summer crops and allow growing to take place into the autumn and winter.

In addition the facility would allow allotments holders to work together to grow plants for sale, the proceeds of which would be used to improve the whole allotment site. A visit to Ryton Gardens (the National Centre for organic gardening) convinced us that the insulation, build quality and guarantee of a Keder greennhouse was very suitable for the application we had in mind. It was apprent that the material was tough, resilient and had a longlife. The straight sides ensured that maximum use could be made of the ground space covered and a simple but versatile ventilation system would ensure good air flow through the growing space. We were please to find out that a water collection system was integral to the design so reducing reliance on mains supply.

In preparation for erection of the greenhouse our members cleared and levelled the site and dug the foundation holes. The team from Keder had the structure up and ready for use in two and a half days. Spring 2014 will see the 16m X 4m Keder greenhouse swing fully into action as a dozen plus allotmenteers start to make use of the new facility. * Text in italics taken from the Lottery application www.dunchurchallotments.org.uk

Keder Ship To Sweden

Client

Cedergren

Keder Ship To Sweden

Greenhouse design for Difficult Growing Conditions

Earlier this year, Keder Greenhouse were approached by a couple (retired civil engineers) living in Jordas in Sweden (30 miles east of Gothenburg), looking for a durable and efficient greenhouse design. Mr and Mrs Cedergren required a quality Keder Greenhouse to withstand the difficult growing conditions.

Jordas is 250 meters above sea level, on top of a mountain ridge. It is part of the Smaland plateau, which is known for icy temperatures below zero, even occasionally during the day in summertime!

The numerous moose and deer invading their garden was another reason a greenhouse installation was absolutely necessary to be able to grow their tomatoes and cucumbers.

Besides contending with the temperatures and wildlife Mr & Mrs Cedergren also have to work with exceptionally reduced daylight hours at certain times of the year. During May, June and July, the plants that have survived the winter tend to grow exceptionally fast due to the long daylight hours.

The growing schedule in this Swedish household using a traditional greenhouse is: April – September with a heat pump on standby.

October to March any growing currently has to be conducted inside their house. So there was a definite need to extend the growing seasons.

During October to March, any growing currently has to be conducted inside their house. So there was a definite need to extend the growing seasons.

Why a Keder Greenhouse?

The Cedergren’s chose a Keder greenhouse design and structure because of the insulation it offers, the light diffusion, proven strength and snow load capabilities.

At this point, we did not know the Cedergren’s were both civil engineers by profession. So, we were expecting to receive some images of our standard greenhouses sat in a picturesque Swedish Garden, following the greenhouse installation. The images we received were fascinating.

A Unique Keder Construction

They had taken the greenhouse kits and adapted them to make a structure 3 metres wide by approximately 3.5 meters high, which was sat on a wall, made of brick / Leca (lightweight expanded clay) and insulated further with logs.

To maintain some overnight warmth, the ground was excavated ground isolation installed and back filled with gravel.

The greenhouse had a set of handmade double doors installed in the front.

The most surprising aspect of the adaptation was the roof vent system being installed upside down.

The Cedergren’s have installed it this way so that, during their brief summer, the vents act more as a chimney drawing the warm air out. However, in order to make this work efficiently and not let the rain in, the standard vents had to be altered. They removed the wax opener and fitted a powered linear actuator, they discovered the actuators have a very fast response.

They open and close in just 5 seconds. As the Swedish summer can alternate between sun and rain several times a day, the Cedergren’s were pleased to find that the actuator would react efficiently when the temperature drops just a couple of degrees right before the rainfall. With such a fast working mechanism they have found the temperature within the greenhouse remains very stable and no rain gets in. The actuators are set to open at 27C and close at 24C.

We look forward to catching up with the Cedergren’s in spring / summer 2015 to see how the greenhouse has performed and hopefully has extended their remarkably short growing season.