The message
from "Derek White" contains these words:

I can't quite get my head around this, because we live in a clean area and
our garden is small but well looked after. We bought some large wooden
oblong plant containers about a year ago, and we have some very pretty
flowers in them that help to decorate the garden. And today, disaster! I
have seen a rat in the garden, which, on closer inspection, appears to have
burrowed down beneath one of these containers. I now feel as though I am an
extra in the film "Night of the Living Dead"! It is quite horrendous to
think it is lurking in my garden. What is the best way to get rid of it. I
would prefer not to use a trap, but I believe there might be poisons or rat
repellents on the market. Any ideas would be gratefully received!
P.S. I have a tortoise and a dog as pets.

Get a length of plastic drainpipe.

Saw it into lengths, say 18" like this:

__________________________________________________
|____________\/_______________\/_________________\/
__
You should end up with as many \/ shaped rings as you have lengths of pipe.
__
Cut your \/ shaped rings across the narrowest part.

Cut, bore or otherwise make a hole in the middle of each length of pipe.

Slip one ring on to each length.
___________ ____________ __
/________________________\ -- \/

Buy a packet/tin of Neosorexa and slide each ring to expose the hole,
then bait the trap in the middle, and replace the ring.

Place traps (preferably) on the ground along walls, fences, etc - rats
tend to follow such routes.

--
Rusty
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