I'm currently getting ready for a huge greenhouse which comes ready in Jan.  It's 7m long by 4m wide with a 2.5m wide porch, has 10 auto-opening roof windows, 10 more opening windows around the sides, over 100 panes of glass some of which are 2.5m long.  For the base I'll also be laying a sandstone floor.  I'm machining up and painting tonnes of wood in preparation ..read more

This week I'm in Reading building the base for a 4.5m long greenhouse which is 2.5m wide with a 2m wide porch extending out by 1m.  There are lots of side opening windows and 4 auto openers in the roof too giving lots of ventilation choice.   I'll be back just after Christmas to install the greenhouse structure over this base ..read more

After finishing my job in Hereford I drove to Streatley to take part in a 100 mile trail run.  I'm in the picture above just behind the tree on the RH side, with shades on looking at my phone.  The aim was for me to try and complete in under 24 hours - they give you 26 hours to do it but you get a special medal if under 24 hrs. Before and after photos.  I came in at 22hrs 41 mins.  Thanks to all my friends and family who supported me with messages during the race.  We also raised lots for Prostate Cancer UK ..read more

My customer asked for a 3x2m greenhouse with a door along the long side - although we later extended it to 3.5m long.   The building conditions mean the structure cannot be taller than 2.5m but I wanted to maximise the height and still get a 2m high doorway in. As you can see from the photo opposite, we filled the space just right with only 3cm to spare on the height. The base was built by local brickies as it would have been really complicated for me to come from North Wales for that.  Unfortunately, the brickies didn't put the doorway in the middle of the wall and the ..read more

This is probably the most complication greenhouse I have ever built.   Please click here to see the plans and base building write up which explains the obstacles this design has to overcome. Great success though as it meets them all ..read more

Back to Northamptonshire to complete the "Steve" with add-ons!*  (* Cold frames either side of porch and extra long porch depth). I'm not sure there's much more to say about another successful Steve construction.  My customers are delighted and I am too.  The pictures tell a nice story....great to see it being filled with plants ..read more

A stepped greenhouse?  This one goes over a large step - actually the bigher level to the garden which is retained with gambion baskets filled with stone.  My customer wanted me to design a greenhouse close to the shared boundary at the top of the garden but also have it stretch down onto the lower garden. ​I came up with this.... There are lots of complications which restrict this design -  The overall height can't be more than 2.5m given the proximity to the shared boundary Yet a doorway needs to fit into the lowest part of the greenhouse - normally 2m And we need another ..read more

Lovely to get a message and photo from a past customer this morning.  I completed this one almost 4 years ago - Nov 2019.  The greenhouse is looking really at home in this fantastic garden.  Hi Robin, Just an image to show how well the greenhouse is settling into the garden. Hope you are well Best wishes Jonathan ..read more

I'm building the base for another "Steve" greenhouse this week - with a couple of differences.  My customer has asked me to make the porch a little longer - 1m out rather than 0.5m - and to add a cold frame on either side.   The site is between two tall beech hedges.  You might assume is would be too shaded here but not at all - I was working in sun all day.  This was the location of an aluminium greenhouse which performed very well for many years so they know what they are talking about ..read more

It's not about greenhouses but it's worth a mention.  I live in one of the most beautiful parts of the world and love exploring the countryside by running the fells.  I get to see Snowden (Yr Wyddfra) from my garden on clear days but this weekend I got the chance to climb all the 15 peaks of the Snowdonia range in one day.  We ran it of course! Taking another re-fueling stop whilst chatting to our guide.  I'm not in this photo as I took it! Here we're crossing the treacherous Crib Gogh just as the sun is coming up.  We set off at the base of Yr Wyddfra at 4am and t ..read more