Over 50 VDHS members enjoyed a visit to the Stewarts Broomhill site on 28 February for a guided tour of the state-of-the-art nursery and glasshouses. 

 

The members were interested in all the automated processes to help with the efficient running of the nursery, with recycled water pumped from an onsite reservoir, automatic ventilation and shading systems, and the 11 miles of underground pipes making up their ground source heat pump system! 

 

The group had a demonstration of the machinery which fills pots with compost, how the plants are moved around the site, and how the temperatures are regulated for optimum growing conditions. 

 

The tour was rounded off with a delicious cream tea!