DIY fruit cage advice?

[Herbie]

Copper pipe is expensive. We have had major problems in swindon where the lead off roofs is nicked, also a school waiting to be knocked down had all the pipe work stripped out of it by vandals.

The reason they nick it, is the price that they get for it at the scrap yards, as recycled metals are where the money is.

[NoWayPedro]

I know of people who have had their copper piping stripped out even though it was still plumbed in.

When contacting the police they were told it was getting quite common in the area as copper piping has become very sought after.

[areia]

copper and lead are high on the market at the mo getting nicked from everywhere round here taking lead off church roofs the gits grrr

[robD]

Any metal is going walkabout round here these days with the price of scrap, lead off roofs all over the city (churches, schools, houses, anywhere really) but anything on allotments too - someone had their greenhouse frame taken off our site a couple of weeks ago and any other metal on site disappeared long ago.

[jeannine]

When it comes to what to grow in your cage, I'd put as much fruit as you can in it. In my experience, birds lull you into a false sense of security about crops like blueberries and then eat half your crop in one night!

[mclarenpitcrew]

Someone on our site tried a gazebo frame with netting last year, it stayed together till mid january and then the weather took it apart and bent most of the poles. It was something I was going to do, but after see the results, I am opting for the toughter scaffold option.

[Maggie2008]

I found some good instructions for making a DIY fruit cage last year Haven't got around to do it yet but hopefully we will get a summer this year so I might have a go
Click this link to have a look

Making a fruit cage

[KingEdward]

hmmmmm,gazebo what a great idea.i've got one in the garage that ive only used once.i'm thinking they might fit thru those building bricks with holes in providing extra support.well i hope so anyway .

[rivercottagewannabe]

I'l be using the frame of an old gazebo also. I bought it last year from woolies at 15 quid. but like everything else in the wind tunnel that is my garden it lasted only a few weeks. Might pick up another one in a couple of weeks.

[Claire72]

After reading the advice on here, I put an advert onto freeshare for tent/gazebo poles, and already have an awning offered!!! Not entirely sure how long it will last, but worth a try!