Squirrels

[Beryl]

I intended to start picking my first peas today only to find the squirrels had beaten me to it. Lots of empty pods on the ground with teeth marks.
I have them as securely as I thought with netting but the little ....... have managed to pull the pegs out, overturn 4 bricks and have a very enjoyable meal.
Any other suggestions to protect them would be gratefully received.

Beryl.

[Johnboy]

Hi Beryl,
I feed the squirrels here ---- LEAD!
JB.

[Beryl]

oooh er JB, harm those cute clever furrry animals!!!!! how could you? Think I would get shot if I tried.

Beryl.

[Johnboy]

Hi Beryl,
I'm afraid that here the battle is who gets to eat my Filberts. There are several hundred simple Hazels around the plot but the Filberts are strictly mine!
JB.

[Beryl]

I gave up JB with my Kent Cobs. Planted 3 at least 15 years or more ago now but this last winter I cut them down, the squirrels always managed to beat me to it. A very enterprising young lady on our site dug the roots out and has replanted. I wish her the best of luck with them as she is nearer to the trees where the squirrels are than me. They were a bit of nostagia for me, having been brought up on the Kent/Surrey borders when we would go and collect them and Dad would fill a big tin and bury it in the garden for Christmas. Those were the days eh!.

Beryl.

[PLUMPUDDING]

I actually got a good crop of cobs and filberts last year, which is the first ever. I had read that hanging a rubber snake in the tree put the squirrels off - might have been one of the "Head Gardener's tips" in an old KG magazine. I thought it sounded a bit far fetched, but happened to find an old rubber snake in a box of toys I was throwing out. I hung it on a piece of string in the tree so that it moved about, and it really did seem to scare them away. I don't know whether it was a fluke or not, but it is worth a try.

I wonder if it would work on blackbirds in the raspberry bed - I've run out of net for that bit of garden.

[Chantal]

My lovely Diego (pictured in my avatar) is a prolific squirrel hunter. I've had 16 tails delivered to me (some with back legs) in the past 18 months. For the first year none of my bulbs were dug up over the winter.

[Beryl]

We have several cats on the allotment Chantel but they are obviously not doing their job. Maybe Deigo could start a training scheme!!!

I was very near to handing in my keys yesterday what with squirrels, foxes and badgers. Give me cats any day. At one time we tolerated them but now they breed in such numbers.

I am a happy bunny really, picked lots of soft fruit today before the next lot of rain arrives.

Beryl.

[Johnboy]

Hi Beryl,
What annoys me with Squirrels is that there is at least a thousand feet of Hazel hedging around my property with countless nuts which they totally ignore but make a bee line for the filberts.
Since your first posting I have been engaging my brain and have on the drawing board a way to protect the Filberts.
When it is built I will attempt putting a photo on here.
I have yet to cost it out but who cares what it will cost.
JB.

[Beryl]

Canny devils, they know what's sweetest JB.

One consolation I think I might have beaten the badgers to my mini sweetcorn again this year. Picked 9 cobs on Sunday.

Best of luck with the protection for your Filberts.

Beryl.

[alan refail]

Just paused to ponder how things will be when/if red squirrels start causing problems

Anglesey red squirrels seen in town gardens, say experts

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-nort ... s-18831554

[vegpatchmum]

Grey squirrels are nice roasted, apparently .

I seem to remember a TV Chef (can't remember which one or maybe it was a nature presenter) a couple of years ago, suggesting that if every one shot and then roasted a grey squirrel for Sunday lunch, then the problem could be erradicated in quite a short period of time

A tasty little morsel so I'm told

VPM
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