On Thu, 11 Jul 2013 11:31:12 +0100, Wendy Tinley
wrote:

On 11/07/2013 11:03, Broadback wrote:
Outside my back door I have a dozen pots of various herbs on a gravelled
area. Something is digging in the pot of thyme throwing the compost onto
the gravel. About a third is now out and the roots of the time exposed
almost to the bottom, this has been happening over several days. What is
it likely to be? There is very little moisture there, though there are
odd trails of slugs/snails on the exposed compost. Not worried, just
wondering, mind you it is a bit of a pain as I will have to clean up the
gravel nearby. I intend replanting with a new thyme plant then cover the
compost with mesh. That still does not explain the cause. Any ideas please?

My neighbour complains of blackbirds digging into the soil on her pots.
If not blackbirds could it be hedgehogs searching for grubs?

Probably blackbirds. I have a nest with a second brood of young
currently scavenging around my garden. They throw soil out of pots,
throw the gravel onto the paving slabs of the path and scatter
"mind-your-own-business" all over the place. If you had bulbs in the
pots and squirrels around I'd blame the latter. A friend has a
neighbour who feeds the squirrels and though he's a good neighbour
otherwise she secretly curses him as she keeps losing bulbs!

Pam in Bristol