[Marches Farmer]

Thinking about getting a small one for saladstuff this summer.  Needs to be very sturdy for our hill top.  I've heard mesh sides give better air circulation.  Any views, recommendations or experiences most welcome.

[Fleecewife]

We live 1000' up on a windy hilltop in southern Scotland, so perhaps similar to your situation.  Our tunnel is from Northern polytunnels which offers extra thick metal and diameter for the hoops, corner struts, end triangulation, crop bars and base rail - all to give extra stability in high winds. Ours has stood for about 15 years.  The cover blew off in the early days but that was because we hadn't attached the battens the right way round.  Since then all has been well.  We check all the nuts and bolts before and after every big storm - initially they loosened off but now they seem to be more secure.
 
We put up a 2m windbreak fence around the whole veggie patch to protect the tunnel, but now after all these years the hedge we planted at the same time has grown thick and tall enough to take over for wind protection, so the windbreak can come down, on three sides at least.
 
I would also add - buy the biggest you can afford or have room for, as you will find plenty of other things you want to grow in it once it's up.
 
For ventilation (you need far more than you might think), we chose doors at both ends, plus a double width louvre at each end (in fact there are two one above the other, but opening the bottom one only happens when it's really hot, which is so rarely here that I wouldn't bother with that again).  The only mesh we use is to cover the gaps for when the louvres are open to stop the chickens flying in, and over the doors when they are open.  When it's very windy we keep everything shut, although others say to keep everything open - whatever, don't leave just one end open, and have proper doors with ground bolts, not just roll-up mesh.
If you want to grow salads in the winter, then mesh sides are not adequate, unless they are the sort where you can roll up the polythene when it's hot but have it down when it's cold.  I don't know how that system would stand up to high winds, but Northern Polytunnels are happy to discuss your best options for the site.  If you live somewhere without winter frosts then mesh sides would be great.

[Fowgill Farm]

We used Ferrymans and they were good to deal with about 6 or 7 yrs ago, we have a big 'un which can be seen in the last edition of Practical Pigs, just starting to show signs of wear and tear at stress points where it stretches over the frame but has stood up to all the Yorkshire weather has had to throw at it.
Mandy
ps you always want more space than you think you do! so decide what size you want and add a bit   

[Anke]

We used First Tunnels, and they were good and gave sensible advise. Ours is anchored to the ground with metal plates rather than having the ends of the hoops croncreted in, it has extra brackets and a very useful set of cross-bars on the hoops - good for putting fencing wire at a height to tie all climbing plants to. We also have double doors at each end and a mesh side that can be opened for extra ventilation.  Ours has stood for over 6 years now, no real wear and tear yet, although I know the polythene may now break quite easily.
 
Only issue is to be aware of the weight of snow and to be prepared and able to quickly push it off... hard work, but ours hasn't collapsed yet.

[Mammyshaz]

Our polytunnel was put up last 'summer' it is from northern polytunnels after reading good reports on this site. It is made of sturdy steel structures and there are different combinations to suit the individual. It took two of us to carry each hoop part, we didn't expect it to be so robust.
 We also opted for doors at both ends. And glad we did as it could get stifling when we had some sun. The structure is buried with steel plates rather than concreting just in case we move house  it gets hit by north winds straight off the fields so has put up with strong winds but hasn't been up a year yet.
No complaints up to now 

[goosepimple]

You might want to see if there is anyone in you area getting rid of one or have had the metal arc hanging around meaning to put it up and never got around to it - www.freecycle.org get things like this on it sometimes and you can click on to your own area.  Alternatively an ad in your local post office etc, you never know.
 
We inherited 2 here, 1 came down in snow and we had to take the other one down for relocation.  They're big ones as there used to be a market garden here so we are going to use one in the traditional sense and put mesh over the other to grow fruit away from little pecking beaks. 
 
I'm with fleecewife - get one as big as you can, you can always order the other bits and bobs online if you get something free, you will fill it and they do heat up tremendously so ventilation is key.
 
We also made long benches from the slatted timber you get below bed mattresses - lots of people throw beds out and these are handy as they are linked together with that white tape stapled to them so they're easy to make.