Our best value fruit cage, Cheaper, stronger, longer lasting (by Garden Life Direct)

We have had a walk in run from Garden Life Direct for some time. We have been so impressed with it that we decided to install another of their structures as a fruit cage. These units are built to last. They are heavy-weight, incredibly robust and are available in many lengths, widths, heights and with a range of wire covers
In this video we'll cover:
- How to build the cage
- The features of the fruit cage and why we chose it
- Our review of the cage compared to the market leader
- At the end of the video we offer a DISCOUNT on Garden Life Direct walk in runs.
Buy your Garden Life Direct Walk in Run here gardenlifedire...
As at October 2023, Garden Life Direct have a large sale of 30% off on runs so other discount codes have been suspended
The tools that we mentioned are in our Amazon store front (we get a small commission but you pay the same)
Aviation snips: amzn.to/3oqfp1U
Basic tap & die set: amzn.to/45pRPDe
Other offers available to our subscribers:
Nestera Coops are (in our opinion) the best on the market.
They are made from 9mm 100% recycled plastic, are red mite resistant and come with a 25 YEAR GUARANTEE!!!
They are offering our subscribers 5% off their coops.
For UK residents, buy your Nestera Coops and get the discount AUTOMATICALLY APPLIED AT CHECKOUT by using this link: nestera.co.uk/ECL
For EU residents, buy your Nestera Coops and get the discount AUTOMATICALLY APPLIED AT CHECKOUT by using this link: nestera.fr/ECL
For US residents, buy your Nestera Coops and get the discount AUTOMATICALLY APPLIED AT CHECKOUT by using this link: nestera.us/ecl
Offers available from Brinsea UK (valid until 30/06/23) *
Buy a Mini Advance or EX and get a free OvaView Egg Candler - offer code ECL-F180
Buy a Maxi 24 Advance or EX and get a free High Intensity OvaView Egg Candler - offer code ECL-F190
Buy an Ovation 28 Eco and get large egg carriers free - offer code ECL-AF011
Buy Ovation 56 Eco and get large egg carriers free - offer code ECL-AG011
Buy any Chicksafe and get 10% discount - offer code ECL10
*Please note this offer is valid for shipping to UK mainland addresses only, Highlands and Islands will incur an additional shipping charge. Brinsea UK are unable to ship to NI
We breed Buff Orpington chickens and have kept them for a number of years.
We grow our own food on our smallholding and endeavour to be self-sufficient. Subscribe to see more of our life including self sufficiency videos, recipes, garden tips and chicken keeping.
Visit our website www.englishcountrylife.com to see our branded merchandise which includes t-shirts and handcrafted pottery mugs. Contact us for availability at [e-mail]
Visit our Amazon Storefront to see suggestions for items we love and use on the smallholding including chicken-keeping tools:
www.amazon.co....
Opening Music credits: Artist = Earth Tree Healing
Composer = Claudine West
Website = claudinewestmu...
We earn commission from Amazon Affiliate, Nestera Affiliate & Brinsea Affiliate Links

[@cashk100]

This video is genius. Thank you very much for sharing. I might put my vegetable garden in it. I have a fox and cat issue in my garden, they all want to live in it.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thanks so much Kate! Literally nothing has got into this one, no rabbits, hares, foxes even birds!

[@karenw9996]

I am SO jealous of you guys in the UK that can get these! Everyone, tell them they need to start exporting to the US!!!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

We'll certainly tell John - the owner!

[@cashk100]

I have seen homesteading channels that have been able to get them over there. In fact that’s where I saw them first. I’m pretty sure you can get them over there.

[@karenw9996]

@@cashk100 From Garden Life Direct? I know there are similar looking things available in the US, but after looking at their specs vs Garden Life Direct, they are not the same quality, and don't have some of the features I'm specifically looking for that are found in the GLD product.

[@olson.pamela]

Fiona’s voice is so pleasant and mellifluous I just listen to all your videos to relax myself. Thanks Fiona!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you 😊

[@stuartdelamare4072]

I wait until winters over and everyone throws away trampolines I’ve used the frames to make a fruit cage and poly tunnel 👍🇬🇬

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Great idea 👍

[@brightantwerp]

Thank you, right on time. I bought a chickenrun like that this week. Will build it over the weekend. You always explain things so clearly. 💜

[@EnglishCountryLife]

They are superb so I'm sure you will be delighted - just take your time with the build 🙂

[@yokooneill53]

I love the versatility of this. I need one for my berry plants. And I like the catio idea. I've been trying to figure out a way to build one for my cat.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

They really are excellent your berries will thank you!

[@user-xp6qs4oy5o]

I wish you made a video when you were puttiing this structure up

[@EnglishCountryLife]

We filmed the process on one of our other runs. Hopefully this will help kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6Grk4KKn9d0fNk

[@stevend7074]

Love your video. I live across the pond so need different products. Would 19G Hex (black nylon coated) provide enough strength in snow? Also, could you provide the end dimensions (height of small poles, height of apex, total width), and how wide your roll of mesh is? Thanks!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Steven. We find 19g weld mesh strong enough for our snow but we don't get much and soon sweep it off. Dimensions on this structure Span 4m (across door) approx 13ft ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Depth 8m - approx 26ft Leg Height - 1m (optional extension to 2m height) Height to peak - 2.1m (3.1m if choosing leg extension) Fully galvanised 38mm tubular steel framework Tanalised timber door and frame Door 1.8m high x 75cm wide

[@LeoTheYuty]

Love how its appearance, and great video.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thanks Leo!

[@tonymatthews445]

Not that I'm a nerd or anything. But if thats the 3x8 and one paid full price for it, including the price of black current bushes - the budget, even with the tools suggested, would be around £900. With a reasonable yield of berries, at the cost I saw on google for fresh organic fruit, the return/saving on buying fruit is around £600 - £700 per year. Makes that cage look like a very good bargain, and even better with the discounts still on offer :)

[@EnglishCountryLife]

With cost of organic fruit, it's certainly worth it to us - and will last for ages!

[@moutasemh4187]

Beautiful and extremely nice🌹🌹

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you!

[@englishrogue2649]

I wonder whether a really determined blackbird could squish him/herself through the wire mesh? I'd be interested in hearing how this summer's crop of berries survive a determined avian assault. Jolly good video all the same!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

We are pretty certain that a 1" mesh will be sufficient to exclude wild birds - it's the size of mesh recommended by DEFRA to exclude wild birds during Avian Influenza housing restrictions. If it's a concern, there is an option for half inch weld mesh - I would bet very large sums on no bird getting through that! To date the berries are fine and completely untouched 🙂

[@barbsdee3831]

Thank you for all the tips and tricks and the useful tools that will make our life easier. Did you have enough ties supplied or did you add a few extra? I’ve ordered one to be delivered after my holiday 🎉

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Barbs 😀. I'm a man, so of course I ordered more. I didn't need them, they sent loads, but more is always better 😁. If you order anything I suggest get 100 of 20cm ties, the aviation snips and a basic tap & die set. The whole lot should be under £25. You don't truly need any of them but they make things easier

[@barbsdee3831]

@@EnglishCountryLife 😂 ‘I’m a man’ 😂🤣 Ive made a note to order snips and tap & die set thank you 👍🏼

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@barbsdee3831 We do like tools and other shiny things 😂

[@noga8974]

Looks great, very tempted. But I have 2 doubts from experience (of a polytunnel) in my garden. Can it be secured to handle gale force winds and how can I stop rats tunnelling under it?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Both great questions. We have very severe winds here in Lincolnshire (60-70mph not uncommon, 50mph regularly). These runs (and we now have three) don't even move in the wind. This is partially because they are very solid but mostly because, unlike polytunnels, the wind just pushed through the mesh. We've had many panes of glass literally blown out of the greenhouses but these things have not even rocked. There is an optional weld mesh floor available. That will stop any rats tunneling in!

[@noga8974]

@@EnglishCountryLife that's good to hear. Thanks for replying

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@noga8974 No problem - we are currently installing one that's 18m x 3m. We really rate them

[@MsPaulsgirl]

Did you put weed control fabric under the mulch / bark before planting the fruit bushes?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

We didn't but the mulch is deep enough that it's not been a problem. It's certainly an option

[@MsPaulsgirl]

@@EnglishCountryLife Thanks very much!

[@wendyelliott5851]

Hello, I’m thinking of getting one of these cages for my chickens, where it is to go is very close to an willow tree, if I get 1/2 inch mesh, do you think the leaves would get stuck on the roof or do you think they would slide off? Many thanks 🙏

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Wendy! We do have one with half inch mesh that we use for chickens. We reviewed it here kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6Grk4KKn9d0fNk It's difficult to say if the leaves would settle on the roof as neither of ours is directly under a tree. All I can say is that with trees all around them, nothing has stuck to either one of them so far

[@wendyelliott5851]

@@EnglishCountryLife thank you so much for your reply, much appreciated 👍🏻

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@wendyelliott5851 You are very welcome Wendy - don't forget to use our discount code (ECL10) if you order - 10% off 😉

[@wendyelliott5851]

@@EnglishCountryLife 👍🏻👍🏻

[@annahamer515]

Is the discount still available? I am keen to get one for my chickens for the next flockdown

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Anna, it certainly is code ECL10 for 10% off. We are building one ourselves for flockdowns, they are perfect for that!

[@annahamer515]

@@EnglishCountryLife thanks for this. I am wondering about the best size. I have 8 birds but may get a couple more. I will also be purchasing a nestera hen house for inside the cage. Many thanks

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@annahamer515 Hi Anna. Really it's a matter of the bigger the better. In the spot we use we can't get anything bigger than a 3m span in, but we are making it very long. I would definitely recommend upgrading to either 1" or 1/2“ weld mesh. We are going with Nestera coops too 😉

[@SimonNoDigNeale]

So you bought the One Inch 19g Weld-Mesh (upgrade)? As opposed to the 20g Weld-Mesh that came as standard. Forgive my ignorance, but what is the difference? Thanks.

[@SimonNoDigNeale]

OK, I've just seen what I have missed. Weld and Hex.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@SimonNoDigNealeHi Simon, that's it exactly. The 1" weld mesh is substantial compared to hex type wire. Well worth it in our opinion

[@chrishamilton-wearing3232]

Fiona, swearing !!! I don't believe it.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Really? 😂

[@chrishamilton-wearing3232]

@@EnglishCountryLife How could such a sweet , angelic girl possibly even know swear words let alone use them ?😇

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@chrishamilton-wearing3232 Trust me, she can make a drunk Russian sailor blush!

[@chrishamilton-wearing3232]

@@EnglishCountryLife Well, that's that image shattered. I won't be able to view her in the same light again. 🤭