Kitchen Garden Forum

After reading in KG Mag. about the man who put blow up snakes in his nut trees to keep the squirrels away I thought I would try it.

I hadn't got a blow up snake, but found a couple of old rubber ones my sons used to play with (stored with tons of other stuff which might come in handy in the loft!)

I tied them on strings and hung them from the hazel nut tree and hoped for the best.

They did scare the chickens, so I was quite hopeful.

We've been on holiday and I've just checked the tree and all the nuts are still there. It might just be a coincidence, but we went away in September last year and I returned to find the empty nut shells in a neat little pile under the tree. There are squirrels around as they raid the bird feeders in the mornings, but they've left the nuts alone this year.

Dear Plumpudding, i was just wondering if the squirrels maybe suffering from concussion, where they had fell out of the trees laughing.

Sorry, but you know what i'm like.

Hi, O.H.,

Whether they are scared, or have fallen out of the tree laughing, the nuts are still there. They do look rather scary, and I must say they made me jump when I walked into one the other morning when I'd forgotten about them.

The hens have got used to them though, so I suppose the squirrels will too, I just hope I get some ripe nuts before they do.

I must say I laughed when I read it, but it does seem to work. It is nice when some of the junk comes in handy too. I was amazed that I could actually remember where I'd stored them.

Despite all my nonsense Plumpudding, i am pleased they are working.