Rob McAlister Fishing Umbrella Shelter to the Rescue!

This is the tale of a compassionate German lady, Barnaby the stray cat and an innovative fishing umbrella shelter.

For the last 10 years a stray cat has been visiting Elisabeth Linder’s garden in London. Over the years, Elisabeth’s life has been completely overtaken by her determination to rescue and care for the cat. The cat, Barnaby (named by Elisabeth), almost feral and fearful of people has started to deteriorate in health and is in need of care. After some significant research Elisabeth purchased the Rob McAlister Ltd Fishing Umbrella Shelter from outdoor product innovators Cave Innovations. The height and angle adjustable umbrella has a clever zip detachable wind shelter. To improve the longevity and waterproofness of the canopy she coated it with Nikwax tent spray.

To be close to Barnaby in order to care for him she has set up a bed on the ground under the shelter. Elisabeth has been in touch several times with Deborah at Cave Innovations customer services with updates on the situation and providing pictures.

“Your fishing umbrella in summer without shelter but big enough to keep him dry. He was in better health at that time.”

“Here the shelter is adjusted ,you cannot see it because of all the elements I put at the sides to prevent the plastic from making a noise ( frightens him)”

“Barnaby was so ill by then that I decided around New Year to get him a second umbrella in order to stay near him , even overnight, and not get wet.”

“This is the entrance to my tent, Barnaby’s palace is to the right of the paving stones behind the round bush. In the meantime I am so used to my bed on the ground, I even fall asleep sometimes. And thanks to the cleverness of your designer, B has always been protected from wind and rain and kept warm with the aid of many hot water bottles…. I thank all of you for your help and your kindness, I really really do. And also for your compassion, Deborah. Many many kind regards from me and the “patient”…. Elisabeth”

Founder and Managing Director of CaveInnovations.com, Rob McAlister, says “It never fails to amaze me the alternative uses people come up with for our products. If our fishing umbrella shelter helps Elisabeth and Barnaby then good luck to them both!”

CultiCave and HortiHood mini plastic greenhouses helping to grow in the small urban garden

Introducing the CultiCave and HortiHood Mini Plastic Greenhouses!

One of the advantages of being the boss of your own company is that you get the chance to be the first to try out new products. Rob McAlister, MD and chief inventor at Cave Innovations lives in a small terraced house near the centre of Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire. Like many urban houses, the garden is quite small. Space is at a premium and it’s for people in a similar situation that many of Rob’s inventions are created.

Take a look at Rob’s garden – well actually, to be fair it’s really his wife Debs who is the keen gardener. The following images show the CultiCave zip-together, modular greenhouse system and also the HortiHood 90 wall-mounted folding greenhouse, which have been in the garden for about 3 years now.

Here are a few photos showing their garden last year, (when they still kept chickens!)

A view of the whole garden – note the HortiHood 90, the CultiCave, the HortiHood Mini 90 and also the Silverback UV Garden Parasol.

Well, that was last year. This year Debs has had a bit of a change around and as you’ll see the garden is really blooming.

CultiCave, the plastic modular zip-together greenhouse

When asked about her garden, Debs explains:

“This year the CultiCave is really earning it’s keep.  In there I am growing; lettuces, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, mizuna (a salad leaf), radishes and I also have a few sorrel and spinach seedlings in there.

In the winter I will clear it out and it will become the winter home for my 2 olive trees and my orange tree.”

The HortiHood wall-mounted folding plastic greenhouse that lifts up and drops down for super easy access

Debs continues:

“In the HortiHood 90 I am growing tomatoes, cucumbers, courgettes, atlas carrots, and some ‘super food’ moringa oleifera trees. 

In some of the photos you can see tucked away at the end of the garden our horti hood 180 mini.  This is fixed to the shed but was invaluable in the spring when I wanted to protect the young beetroot plants that I grew underneath it.”

So there you have it – proof, if you needed it, that plastic mini greenhouses make a real difference in the small urban garden. Watch this space – more updates from Debs as the season progresses. The CultiCave and HortiHood Mini Plastic Greenhouses really are a truly unique and innovative product, suitable for any budding gardener!

For more information about these innovative plastic greenhouses or to buy click

here for the CultiCave modular zip-together greenhouse system or

here for the HortiHood 90 wall-mounted folding greenhouse.

CultiCave and HortiHood – clearly a better way to grow!

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The cheerful Cave chaps spent three days in September at a trade exhibition at Stoneleigh Park. This was the first time exhibiting at a show dedicated to camping and the great outdoors. On display were the CampaCave, Hidey (Holiday) Hood 90, the new Under The Weather pop-up shelter in addition to a few examples from our vast range of umbrellas and UV protection parasols. Despite a rather poor attendance, the team met lots of interesting (and interested) people and learn more about how the marketplace works within the outdoor industry. They also heard some fascinating new uses for the products, opening up a lot of new opportunities.

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