Went to have a look at my Runner beans this morning and around 20 ft of
them have been wiped out.
What I assume to be a squirrel has cropped them from around 6 inches to
around 15 inches, also chewed the netting as well.
Also a few dwarf peas I'd sown have also been cleared almost to the ground.
As there's electric netting around the patch I doubt it's rabbits.
David @ a sunny part of Swansea Bay.

David Hill wrote:
Went to have a look at my Runner beans this morning and around 20 ft of
them have been wiped out.
What I assume to be a squirrel has cropped them from around 6 inches to
around 15 inches, also chewed the netting as well.

Giant slugs.

On 9/5/2012 9:52 AM, wrote:
David Hill wrote:
Went to have a look at my Runner beans this morning and around 20 ft of
them have been wiped out.
What I assume to be a squirrel has cropped them from around 6 inches to
around 15 inches, also chewed the netting as well.

Giant slugs.

Oh, gee, thanks - now I'll have even weirder dreams than usual!

On Wed, 05 Sep 2012 13:37:23 +0100, David Hill
wrote:

Went to have a look at my Runner beans this morning and around 20 ft of
them have been wiped out.
What I assume to be a squirrel has cropped them from around 6 inches to
around 15 inches, also chewed the netting as well.
Also a few dwarf peas I'd sown have also been cleared almost to the ground.
As there's electric netting around the patch I doubt it's rabbits.
David @ a sunny part of Swansea Bay.

In this garden, I would have immediately thought it was the Roe deer
which are frequently around. Might it be deer there?

Gardening on Wilts/Somerset border
on slightly alkaline clay.

On 05/09/2012 17:15, cotula wrote:
On Wed, 05 Sep 2012 13:37:23 +0100, David Hill
wrote:

Went to have a look at my Runner beans this morning and around 20 ft of
them have been wiped out.
What I assume to be a squirrel has cropped them from around 6 inches to
around 15 inches, also chewed the netting as well.
Also a few dwarf peas I'd sown have also been cleared almost to the ground.
As there's electric netting around the patch I doubt it's rabbits.
David @ a sunny part of Swansea Bay.

In this garden, I would have immediately thought it was the Roe deer
which are frequently around. Might it be deer there?

Gardening on Wilts/Somerset border
on slightly alkaline clay.

Deer No.
Expensive yes

On 05/09/2012 14:52, wrote:
David Hill wrote:
Went to have a look at my Runner beans this morning and around 20 ft of
them have been wiped out.
What I assume to be a squirrel has cropped them from around 6 inches to
around 15 inches, also chewed the netting as well.

Giant slugs.

Giant slugs that chomp plastic?
Now they would be worth money.

On 05/09/2012 18:59, David Hill wrote:
On 05/09/2012 17:15, cotula wrote:
On Wed, 05 Sep 2012 13:37:23 +0100, David Hill
wrote:

Went to have a look at my Runner beans this morning and around 20 ft of
them have been wiped out.
What I assume to be a squirrel has cropped them from around 6 inches to
around 15 inches, also chewed the netting as well.
Also a few dwarf peas I'd sown have also been cleared almost to the
ground.
As there's electric netting around the patch I doubt it's rabbits.
David @ a sunny part of Swansea Bay.

In this garden, I would have immediately thought it was the Roe deer
which are frequently around. Might it be deer there?

Gardening on Wilts/Somerset border
on slightly alkaline clay.

Deer No.
Expensive yes



My money's on rabbits. A few years ago I made an allotment in a two-acre
field that I owned. I fenced it all the way round with pig wire putting
chicken wire on top of that - which I also buried to a depth of about 18
inches, the recommended depth to keep out rabbits. My runner beans were
eaten just like yours. I planted some more, and they were also eaten. I
was baffled by this, because I was convinced no rabbits could get in -
particularly as there were no signs of any rabbit digging around the
perimeter. The mystery was solved when I found an almost completely
hidden rabbit hole in the middle of the plot. Yes, I had fenced the
rabbits out, except for these buggers - which I had fenced IN!

I'd have a really good search if I were you.

(I might have also have emailed this directly to you - damn those
Thunderbird changes!)

On 05/09/2012 19:18, Farmer Giles wrote:
On 05/09/2012 18:59, David Hill wrote:
On 05/09/2012 17:15, cotula wrote:
On Wed, 05 Sep 2012 13:37:23 +0100, David Hill
wrote:

Went to have a look at my Runner beans this morning and around 20 ft of
them have been wiped out.
What I assume to be a squirrel has cropped them from around 6 inches to
around 15 inches, also chewed the netting as well.
Also a few dwarf peas I'd sown have also been cleared almost to the
ground.
As there's electric netting around the patch I doubt it's rabbits.
David @ a sunny part of Swansea Bay.

In this garden, I would have immediately thought it was the Roe deer
which are frequently around. Might it be deer there?

Gardening on Wilts/Somerset border
on slightly alkaline clay.

Deer No.
Expensive yes



My money's on rabbits. A few years ago I made an allotment in a two-acre
field that I owned. I fenced it all the way round with pig wire putting
chicken wire on top of that - which I also buried to a depth of about 18
inches, the recommended depth to keep out rabbits. My runner beans were
eaten just like yours. I planted some more, and they were also eaten. I
was baffled by this, because I was convinced no rabbits could get in -
particularly as there were no signs of any rabbit digging around the
perimeter. The mystery was solved when I found an almost completely
hidden rabbit hole in the middle of the plot. Yes, I had fenced the
rabbits out, except for these buggers - which I had fenced IN!

I'd have a really good search if I were you.

(I might have also have emailed this directly to you - damn those
Thunderbird changes!)

Yes you emailed it as well, (welcome to the club).
It's not rabbits, no droppings and they don't like the electric netting,
it is put in at a slant so if they go close to try to dig under their
ears catch it, and take my word it has a hell of a poke, I've got caught
twice holding the corner of a poly house and stepping over, but not high
enough, brought tears to my eyes.
David @ a warm Swansea Bay.

On Sep 5, 7:18*pm, Farmer Giles wrote:
On 05/09/2012 18:59, David Hill wrote:





On 05/09/2012 17:15, cotula wrote:
On Wed, 05 Sep 2012 13:37:23 +0100, David Hill
wrote:

Went to have a look at my Runner beans this morning and around 20 ft of
them have been wiped out.
What I assume to be a squirrel has cropped them from around 6 inches to
around 15 inches, also chewed the netting as well.
Also a few dwarf peas I'd sown have also been cleared almost to the
ground.
As there's electric netting around the patch I doubt it's rabbits.
David @ a sunny part of Swansea Bay.

In this garden, I would have immediately thought *it was the Roe deer
which are frequently around. Might it be deer there?

Gardening on Wilts/Somerset border
* on slightly alkaline clay.

Deer No.
Expensive yes

My money's on rabbits. A few years ago I made an allotment in a two-acre
field that I owned. I fenced it all the way round with pig wire putting
chicken wire on top of that - which I also buried to a depth of about 18
inches, the recommended depth to keep out rabbits. My runner beans were
eaten just like yours. I planted some more, and they were also eaten. I
was baffled by this, because I was convinced no rabbits could get in -
particularly as there were no signs of any rabbit digging around the
perimeter. The mystery was solved when I found an almost completely
hidden rabbit hole in the middle of the plot. Yes, I had fenced the
rabbits out, except for these buggers - which I had fenced IN!

I'd have a really good search if I were you.

(I might have also have emailed this directly to you - damn those
Thunderbird changes!)- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I put up a buried fence for moles. I fenced some in too.
I think rabbits is more likely too.

David Hill wrote:
Went to have a look at my Runner beans this morning and around 20 ft of
them have been wiped out.
What I assume to be a squirrel has cropped them from around 6 inches to
around 15 inches, also chewed the netting as well.

Giant slugs.

Giant slugs that chomp plastic?
Now they would be worth money.

Giant mutant slugs with metal teeth

On 05/09/2012 20:05, harry wrote:
On Sep 5, 7:18 pm, Farmer Giles wrote:
On 05/09/2012 18:59, David Hill wrote:





On 05/09/2012 17:15, cotula wrote:
On Wed, 05 Sep 2012 13:37:23 +0100, David Hill
wrote:

Went to have a look at my Runner beans this morning and around 20 ft of
them have been wiped out.
What I assume to be a squirrel has cropped them from around 6 inches to
around 15 inches, also chewed the netting as well.
Also a few dwarf peas I'd sown have also been cleared almost to the
ground.
As there's electric netting around the patch I doubt it's rabbits.
David @ a sunny part of Swansea Bay.

In this garden, I would have immediately thought it was the Roe deer
which are frequently around. Might it be deer there?

Gardening on Wilts/Somerset border
on slightly alkaline clay.

Deer No.
Expensive yes

My money's on rabbits. A few years ago I made an allotment in a two-acre
field that I owned. I fenced it all the way round with pig wire putting
chicken wire on top of that - which I also buried to a depth of about 18
inches, the recommended depth to keep out rabbits. My runner beans were
eaten just like yours. I planted some more, and they were also eaten. I
was baffled by this, because I was convinced no rabbits could get in -
particularly as there were no signs of any rabbit digging around the
perimeter. The mystery was solved when I found an almost completely
hidden rabbit hole in the middle of the plot. Yes, I had fenced the
rabbits out, except for these buggers - which I had fenced IN!

I'd have a really good search if I were you.

(I might have also have emailed this directly to you - damn those
Thunderbird changes!)- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I put up a buried fence for moles. I fenced some in too.
I think rabbits is more likely too.



You'd need to bury the fence a long way down to keep out moles, some of
their tunnels go down a long way. Trapping's the answer to them - I get
'em very quickly with a tunnel trap.

"David Hill" wrote in message
...
Went to have a look at my Runner beans this morning and around 20 ft of
them have been wiped out.
What I assume to be a squirrel has cropped them from around 6 inches to
around 15 inches, also chewed the netting as well.
Also a few dwarf peas I'd sown have also been cleared almost to the
ground.
As there's electric netting around the patch I doubt it's rabbits.
David @ a sunny part of Swansea Bay.

A couple of rabbits got in before you installed the electric netting

On 05/09/2012 21:29, Christina Websell wrote:
"David Hill" wrote in message
...
Went to have a look at my Runner beans this morning and around 20 ft of
them have been wiped out.
What I assume to be a squirrel has cropped them from around 6 inches to
around 15 inches, also chewed the netting as well.
Also a few dwarf peas I'd sown have also been cleared almost to the
ground.
As there's electric netting around the patch I doubt it's rabbits.
David @ a sunny part of Swansea Bay.

A couple of rabbits got in before you installed the electric netting


The netting has been up for around 12 weeks now, I think I would have
seen it as the ground was empty when I put the fence up.

"David Hill" wrote in message
...
On 05/09/2012 21:29, Christina Websell wrote:
"David Hill" wrote in message
...
Went to have a look at my Runner beans this morning and around 20 ft of
them have been wiped out.
What I assume to be a squirrel has cropped them from around 6 inches to
around 15 inches, also chewed the netting as well.
Also a few dwarf peas I'd sown have also been cleared almost to the
ground.
As there's electric netting around the patch I doubt it's rabbits.
David @ a sunny part of Swansea Bay.

A couple of rabbits got in before you installed the electric netting


The netting has been up for around 12 weeks now, I think I would have seen
it as the ground was empty when I put the fence up.

I've never known squirrels to do this. My money is on still on a couple
of rabbits that you missed.

"David Hill" wrote ...

Went to have a look at my Runner beans this morning and around 20 ft of
them have been wiped out.
What I assume to be a squirrel has cropped them from around 6 inches to
around 15 inches, also chewed the netting as well.
Also a few dwarf peas I'd sown have also been cleared almost to the ground.
As there's electric netting around the patch I doubt it's rabbits.
David @ a sunny part of Swansea Bay.

Funny you should post that on the day that I had a call from allotments to
say that one young Mum, a widow, has had a lot of her runner beans cut at
the base killing the plants. She was in tears. Went down there to check and
they have been cut not eaten by an animal, none of the stem is missing and
it's a straight cut. I won't post what I said but I think you can imagine.
It's the only vandalism I've ever known on this site, ever, but she also had
all her peas taken a couple of months ago which is a strange coincidence (or
not!).
--
Regards. Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK