In the case of this hail, you'd have needed toughened glass for a greenhouse to withstand it (this wasn't the biggest hailstone we got). Some of the local tomato producers had to dispose of loads of ripe tomatoes after the glass from the greenhouses they were in was shattered. They couldn't risk glass shards in the fruit. Mind you, some people had broken car windows as well, so even toughened glass got damaged. Hopefully it was a one off that we don't get again for decades.

One of the chickens was casually strolling around during the hail, so yes, I'm definitely grateful for that protection.