Natural Defences

[number 1 suspect]

Hi
Having only just got my allotment last year I found out that slugs, bless em, are a bit of a pest. I have heard that one of the slugs natural predators is the common slow worm. I found a few of these in my patch and have heard that it is possible to build a sort of nest/box for them. Anybody any ideas on this please. Also in this months GYO there is mention of a bee box, again, any advice on building/ buying one of these. I want to attract as many natural predators into my allotment so as to cut out using any non friendly additives.


Many thanks

N1S

[sewer rat]

Slow worms

Hi N1S
Don't know of any shelters available for these beasties, but there is an allotment site in Cheshire - Helsby Allotments which is being run in a sympathetic manner to help impovethe lot of their slow worm population - might be worth checking if they have a web-site ? All I can tell you is that they hibernate til about March, and sleep under rubbish, debris etc, so maybe a good old fashioned log pile would be a good start.
Cheers
Rat

[number 1 suspect]

Hi Rat
Thanks for that. Will look into it

number 1 suspect

[trc-trc]

Hi N1S

For info on slow worms - try http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfact...iles/281.shtml.

Think Rats suggestion of log pile is best idea, perhaps putting some old carpet or turf on top - so it keeps damp.