According to press reports, the growth lights from a tomato greenhouse in Suffolk have been mistaken for the Northern Lights (aurora borealis) after the phenomenon was widespread across the UK recently.
Dee Harrison, of Ipswich, uploaded three images to social media, showing what she believed was a Northern Lights-style phenomenon in the sky above Bramford, and many views commented on the ‘impressive’ and ‘beautiful’ pictures.
However, it has since transpired that the pink glow on the horizon didn’t come from a natural phenomenon, but instead was caused by the supplement grow lights installed at Suffolk Sweet Tomatoes in Great Blakenham.
Mrs Harrison told the BBC, “It was about 05:15 BST and I was driving along Paper Mill Lane and could see to my left the sky was red. At first, I thought something was on fire but when I parked up, I could see this deep pink sky – it looked brighter through my phone camera so I thought it was an aurora.
“But it wasn’t unfortunately, so I was a bit disappointed because I thought I was up early seeing this aurora and I had it all to myself. I have driven that way for over two years and this was the first time I had seen it – it’s funny how I haven’t noticed it before.”
In fact, the 8.4 ha nursery, which claims to be the first semi-closed hydroponic glasshouse in the UK, was only planted with its first tomato crop this year. The company aims to produce 3.5 million kilos of tomatoes each year.
