Teaching the next generation of horticultural professionals in a brand new and high-tech greenhouse

Merrist Wood College, a multi-award-winning leader in land-based education, required a facility that could bridge the gap between academic theory and commercial reality. The goal was to create a glasshouse that replicated research-grade growing conditions while providing a safe, comfortable, and modern environment for teaching the next generation of horticultural professionals.

© Bridge Greenhouses

© Bridge Greenhouses

Bridge Greenhouses was the partner for this complex project, delivering a state-of-the-art, environmentally controlled Venlo glasshouse integrated with a high-performance ancillary building. "By combining advanced climate technology with sustainable energy solutions, we provided a facility that serves as both a high-yield growing space and a functional, professional-grade teaching facility," shares David Summerfield, Bridge Greenhouses.

The project, located in Surrey, consisted of a full turnkey design, supply, and installation covering a total area of 1,120 m². As mentioned, the facility is intended for education and horticultural training.

© Bridge Greenhouses

© Bridge Greenhouses

The greenhouse structure is a freestanding 4m-bay Venlo glasshouse, 4.8m to gutter, divided into four separate growing areas. A multi-compartment ancillary building is clad in high-performance insulated composite panels, designed to maintain thermal efficiency. Groundworks include power-floated profiled concrete floors throughout, with integrated central drainage channels in each compartment.

Screens installed in the greenhouse include four horizontal thermal/shade systems (Svensson HARMONY 4647 FR) and four vertical roll screens (Svensson HARMONY 4445 R FR), enabling controlled light exposure and energy management. Heating is provided through an Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) system paired with fan coil units, designed to operate efficiently at low-flow temperatures.

© Bridge Greenhouses

© Bridge Greenhouses

Lighting within the greenhouse consists of 57 weatherproof, non-corrosive LED batten lights from Bell Lighting, distributed across the eight areas of the structure. Irrigation is supplied by a rainwater harvesting system, including storage tanks, UV filtration, and precision misting lines. Electrical systems include five custom-built Bridge control panels, with full access to lighting and air circulation fans in all growing areas.

Automation and monitoring are managed through a Tomtech T200 centralised control system, integrating a weather station to control ventilation, screens, and heating across the four growing zones.

The project incorporates energy management measures through the use of ASHPs and rainwater harvesting. The use of industry-standard Venlo structures and centralised control systems aligns the facility with commercial practices, providing students with experience on equipment commonly used in professional horticulture.

© Bridge Greenhouses

© Bridge Greenhouses

Tim Gamble at Active Learning regarding Merrist Wood: "We are delighted with the new facility delivered by Bridge Greenhouses. This industry-leading glasshouse allows our students to develop high-level skills using the very latest horticultural technology."

"Bridge has provided us with a fantastic asset that will be central to our teaching for years to come. We couldn't be happier with the result and highly recommend the Bridge team for their innovation, technical expertise, and professionalism."