More than 100 people staged a protest outside a farm which wants to cover over five acres with polytunnels.

Dr Phillip Lee, MP for Finchampstead, and Councillor Simon Weeks went along on Sunday to speak to the crowd.

Sandra Bedford, who lives in Dell Road near the Manor Farm site, said: “We had a terrific crowd, including dog walkers, riders and cyclists.

“Dr Philip Lee and Cllr Simon Weeks addressed the crowd and their comments were well received.”

EU Plants Ltd has submitted an application to Wokingham Borough Council to build the 3m-high plastic tunnels.

The company bought the 95-acre Manor Farm last year and wants to grow soft fruit, including strawberries, blackberries and raspberries.

Sharon Hall, who lives in Blackwater View, said: “Everyone in the area is extremely concerned over a number of things.

“One is the effect on the landscape. This is going to have an impact on the wildlife and bird life in the area.

“We have got a pair of nesting barn owls and they will disappear when we get polytunnels, not only because of the impact of wind noise but it changes the nature of the open spaces we have got here.”

Families living near Manor Farm have submitted dozens of objections to Wokingham Borough Council and are considering raising a petition.

Mrs Bedford added: “The current view from the memorial enjoyed by millions for generations will be forever lost to a 100-acre sea of black plastic and white plastic factories.

“All of this will become a reality if we allow EU Plants to build one plant factory in one small corner.

“The planning application from EU Plants must be rejected.”

Comments have also been submitted from people further afield who use the land for recreational activities such as horse riding and walking.

The polytunnels would be built on a south-east section of the land, near Dell Road and Lower Sandhurst Road.

Councillor Simon Weeks, ward member for Finchampstead South, said people living in the area were supportive of the fact the land was being run as a farm enterprise, but they feared the polytunnels would be an eyesore.

He said: “Manor Farm is surrounded by Finchampstead Ridges, Mulberry Lakes Nature Reserve and Manor Farm Nature Reserve, which is due to open in a few years’ time.

“A lot of people come to the area at weekends to enjoy a walk, ride horses or walk their dogs.

“I believe this application is a step too far and I need to represent residents on this one.

“As chairman of planning, if it comes to committee, which is a high possibility, I will speak against it and step away and let the vice-chairman take over.”

Cllr Weeks said he had been speaking to the owner of the land to see if there were ways to ease concerns over the polytunnels. He said: “I am still making dialogue with the owner to suggest alternative approaches from people who would probably be pleased to see the site stay as a farm and operate as a farm.

“There is a permissive path which runs through the land from north to south, which is a very attractive path, but not a public one.

“Permission to use it was granted by the previous owners as part of a grant given by the government, but this agreement is due to expire in 2014.

“Having spoken to the owner just before Christmas I believe he could generate a lot of support if he is able to keep the path open beyond 2014.”

Slavey Slavchev, owner of EU Plants Ltd, said: “We are the leading provider of soft fruit plants in the whole of Europe.

“We are doing an extremely good job and in the best possible way. A few people down there will be upset because of the land being a country park, but the fact is it’s private land.

“It’s designated farm land and that’s what we are going to use it for. We have gone about it in the best possible way and we have done as many assessments as we can.

“I understand they are used to something completely different. We accept that and we are trying to be as understanding as possible.”

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