Beaver Plants: Case Study

The Brief

As the demand for their products increased, Beaver Plants needed to expand their operation for their grasses and ferns to include a new polytunnel at their 63-acre Surrey base.

About

Situated across a 63-acre site in Surrey, Beaver Plants originally started out as an aquatic plant nursery, growing in the region of 1.5 million plants per year.

At the turn of the millennium the company underwent a dramatic diversification programme, introducing high quality perennials such as grasses, ferns, hostas, Agapanthus and bamboo, alongside other semi-exotic plants such as cannas, bananas, Cyperus and Zantedeschias.

They boast a diverse range of customers, including superstores garden centres, aquatic retailers, wholesalers, landscapers and other nurseries.

Challenges

The new polytunnel needed to withstand changeable weather conditions, as well as a requirement for bespoke aspects such as hardstanding for a potting machine, climate control and space for Danish trolley tracks and a series of fans for air circulation. In addition, a supply of necessary sundries would be needed such as irrigation equipment and groundcover.

Whilst much of this project would be resourced by Beaver themselves, they also required finance for a proportion of the new venture, which Fargro were able to assist with.

To co-ordinate the bringing together of all these factors and deliver the project on time within budget, Jeff Wheeler recognised he would need a single provider to oversee the entire enterprise.

Solution

Beaver Plants appointed Fargro to deliver the project due to their unique ability to provide a solution for this diverse range of requirements. Fargro:

• Arranged flexible finance

• Supplied and co-ordinated the installation of the new polytunnel structure in conjunction with Northern Polytunnels

• Coordinated the design and supply of irrigation with New Leaf Irrigation

• Supplied the required groundcover trolley track to complete the tunnel

Results

Beaver Plants now have a robust, purpose-built polytunnel structure, designed to withstand the extremes of the British weather.

High quality irrigation and ventilation systems have been installed to ensure optimum conditions are maintained enabling Beaver Plants to expand their production as planned.

“Overall working with Fargro was a great experience, it meant that I could have a single point of contact and am delighted with my new polytunnel. Fargro arranged everything from finance to groundcover and Debbie’s attention to detail meant that the project did not go over budget and was delivered on time”

Jeff Wheeler, Owner