2004-2014
With student numbers now in the mid 40 attending each week, this decade saw an expansion of facilities for our students and a growing number of visitors to the site.
A new modern glasshouse took shape occupying an area previously used for growing Christmas trees. This was used mainly for growing seasonal bedding plants and was equipped with thermal screens, automatic ventilation, moveable benches, a wood fired heating system and water harvesting.
A few years later a dedicated education building / office was built. We were thrilled that Alan Titchmarch agreed to become Horticaps Patron and he officially opened our new building.
2008 also saw a visit to Horticap from the Duke of Gloucester leading to the delivery of compost bins by a group of staff and students to his home in London.
The following year we celebrated our 25th anniversary.
With our nature trail now developing a new purpose built bird hide was installed by our students in the wildlife area so increasing the visitor experience. Alongside a new vegetable garden.
Along with our glasshouse wood burner other Environmental issues were addressed including a wind turbine, the provision of a recycling building where students could work on recycling pots, chopping logs to sell and use in our heater. Also additional rainwater storage tanks.
Once again poor weather particularly in 2012 took its toll on some of our tunnels and buildings.
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