Rats and soil coverings
Moderators: KG Steve, Chantal, Tigger, peter, Chief Spud
Anyone ever had problems with rats under polythene used to cover the soil to warm it up in the spring? I have never heard of it before, but one reader phoned KG after being told by her allotment secretary to remove the polythene on her plot as it would encourage the pests.
Steve Ott
Kitchen Garden Editor
Kitchen Garden Editor
its quite common to find mice runs under black plastic, well its dry and dark which they like. you have to accept that there is a lot of wild life living out there that we dont normally see, either cos it only comes out at night or it sees us coming . you either live with it or start a never ending war with traps, poison etc, you will never win , as soon as you clear an area more pests will move into the unclaimed territory. at best you can only control the numbers .
Hi Steve,
I have been using heavy duty black polythene for many many years and to date have never seen any signs whatsoever of Rats. Mice get under and shelter and Moles will come in and invade the area after worms and a family of Toads the other year but never a rat.
I suspect that unless the allotmenteer in question has that black polythene should not be used in his/her agreement that the secretary is acting illegally. I feel the the person in question should not remove the polythene and immediately lodge an appeal in writing with the allotment committee and then and then only should any polythene be removed if the day is lost after a hearing.
I suspect that if it is a woman that the Secretary is trying the usual bullying tactics and should not be allowed to get away with it.
JB.
I have been using heavy duty black polythene for many many years and to date have never seen any signs whatsoever of Rats. Mice get under and shelter and Moles will come in and invade the area after worms and a family of Toads the other year but never a rat.
I suspect that unless the allotmenteer in question has that black polythene should not be used in his/her agreement that the secretary is acting illegally. I feel the the person in question should not remove the polythene and immediately lodge an appeal in writing with the allotment committee and then and then only should any polythene be removed if the day is lost after a hearing.
I suspect that if it is a woman that the Secretary is trying the usual bullying tactics and should not be allowed to get away with it.
JB.
Dear JB
I would have hoped that the old fashioned male attitude that women shouldn't be on the allotments was long gone and any bullying with it.
Still different associations have different rules, here in Bristol we aren't allowed to use carpet as it may leach chemicals into the soil.
Perhaps they have a hidden agenda on aesthetic grounds or are anti petro-chemical products (either way daft)I wouldn't think plastic was more attractive to pests than a nice warm compost heap.
I would have hoped that the old fashioned male attitude that women shouldn't be on the allotments was long gone and any bullying with it.
Still different associations have different rules, here in Bristol we aren't allowed to use carpet as it may leach chemicals into the soil.
Perhaps they have a hidden agenda on aesthetic grounds or are anti petro-chemical products (either way daft)I wouldn't think plastic was more attractive to pests than a nice warm compost heap.
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Chantal
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Hi Steve
It sounds more like scare-mongering to me; another urban myth. I've moved masses of black plastic on our plots and only every disturbed to odd mouse or frog. We do have rats, we're always fighting that battle, but they tend to live underground and in compost heaps.
JB could well be right, I'd hate to think so, but it's certainly possible.
It sounds more like scare-mongering to me; another urban myth. I've moved masses of black plastic on our plots and only every disturbed to odd mouse or frog. We do have rats, we're always fighting that battle, but they tend to live underground and in compost heaps.
JB could well be right, I'd hate to think so, but it's certainly possible.
Chantal
I know this corner of the earth, it smiles for me...
I know this corner of the earth, it smiles for me...
Hi Di and Chantal,
As a man I am ashamed to say that the bullying of women on plots does still exist. This is why I dropped out of our local show because the judges were biased against women. I used to present a cup and £25.00. to the winner but I overheard the judges saying what they were not meant to about women contributors and I withdrew the cup and refused to have anything further to do with the show which has now folded. What was said was "they can have the jam and cakes but women are not capable of producing descent vegetables". What say you girls!
My friend Grace is over 80 and she has been an absolutely incredible gardener but has lived all her life in the village and has never ever won anything.
I have three daughters and every one of them can grow and they all have responsible professions.
In this area I'm sure there are people who believe that Victoria is still on the throne! Some of them still use the term Squire about the biggest land owner in the district. At Michaelmas his tenants still have to stand at the leased farm gate and curtsy and doff their hats. He, to my mind is a total A----le!
JB.
As a man I am ashamed to say that the bullying of women on plots does still exist. This is why I dropped out of our local show because the judges were biased against women. I used to present a cup and £25.00. to the winner but I overheard the judges saying what they were not meant to about women contributors and I withdrew the cup and refused to have anything further to do with the show which has now folded. What was said was "they can have the jam and cakes but women are not capable of producing descent vegetables". What say you girls!
My friend Grace is over 80 and she has been an absolutely incredible gardener but has lived all her life in the village and has never ever won anything.
I have three daughters and every one of them can grow and they all have responsible professions.
In this area I'm sure there are people who believe that Victoria is still on the throne! Some of them still use the term Squire about the biggest land owner in the district. At Michaelmas his tenants still have to stand at the leased farm gate and curtsy and doff their hats. He, to my mind is a total A----le!
JB.
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retropants
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On the other side of the coin, my dad won the 'best floral display' at our annual allotment show last September. It is only a small show, in it's 3rd year, and gathering pace!
My dad really is very proud of his dahlias! (I do have a pic, but am not clever enough to attach it here!)
My vegetable arrangement (not enough contributors yet to do this properly, with categories, we just arrange our autumn veg pleasingly!) just missed the big prize!!!
Emma. A girl.
My dad really is very proud of his dahlias! (I do have a pic, but am not clever enough to attach it here!)
My vegetable arrangement (not enough contributors yet to do this properly, with categories, we just arrange our autumn veg pleasingly!) just missed the big prize!!!
Emma. A girl.