In article ,
"Mary Fisher" writes:
| "Rachel Aitch" wrote in message
| ...
|
| The urban myth about ivy damaging walls relates to the days of soft
| lime mortar: modern mortar is pretty impregnable BUT in my opinion I'd
| take the ivy right down anyway as it holds dampness and insects against
| the bricks.
|
| The walls under my ivies are bone dry- but yes, they are host to insects and
| spiders. And birds, so I'm happy.

Whenever this has come up before, it has been pointed out that ivy
usually keeps the wall drier than it would be otherwise, but sometimes
makes it wetter. It all depends on the circumstances.

And, of course, bricks are not damaged by either spiders or insects
though, if global warming continues apace, people in some parts of
Lincolnshire and similar locations may have to worry about their
brickwork being damaged by teredo.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.