What is the purpose of a chicken wire cover? To keep critters away?

If that is it's purpose then I assume it will be raised well above the growing plants? I would hate to see it tangle with the plants if you ever wanted to open it.

If you have field mice in your area then the cover needs to have small openings, even 1"x1" will let a mouse in. Polinating insects generally don't get any larger than bees and most can fit through 1/4" openings no problem.

Previously, I've only been bothered (at least that I'm aware of) by squirrels and birds---no mice yet. I wasn't sure whether going for the smaller opening of the hardware cloth was "an ounce of prevention" that I would be glad I took at a later date.

The green vinyl coated hardware cloth has slightly smaller openings compared to the galvanized cloth and I wasn't sure whether the bees could get through. But then again, I supppose there's a whole array of little pollinators that would fit through.

Since I should be harvesting all summer, I thought I'd put the lid on hinges and do away with temporary netting. I was going to use Mel's folded wire type of construction using the green hardware cloth, 2"x2" framing joined with half lap joints, exterior glue and reinforced with brackets.

Regarding headroom for the plants---I'm planning on growing Tristar (day-neutral) in a hill system---no runners. How high will a well grown plant get to be? Is 15" sufficient for clearance?

Do you have any successes or failures in this area you'd like to share?