[missmoneypenny]

Not sure which to get, the tougher mesh  https://www.thompson-morgan.com/p/insect-mesh-carrot-plant-protection-netting-15m-wide-various-sizes/GSK1813TM
Or the netting https://www.thompson-morgan.com/p/veggiemesh-insect-mesh-netting-for-vegetables/VM18TM
It would be mostly for my brassicas, to keep cabbage white egg laying butterflies off. I’m just wondering whether the finer netting stuff would be ripped by pigeons? On the other hand would the tougher mesh exclude too much light? Thanks for any advice.

[New shoot]

I bought this stuff a few years ago and it has lasted really well.  It keeps butterflies off and seems to let plenty of light through.  I have hoops I lay it over.

https://www.gardening-naturally.com/soft-butterfly-netting

[missmoneypenny]

Thanks new shoot. I think that would work with hoops, other wise if the netting is close to the veg the butterfly will get its abdomen in and still lay the eggs. I don’t have the hoops! I use sticks with upside down Actimel pots and sling the net over that. Maybe I should buy some hoops.

[New shoot]

I have got some hoops from the same place which have also lasted well, but sticks and actimel pots would work 

My plot has regular visits from foxes and when the cubs are around, they like to play trampolines on any net tunnels.  The hoops seem to withstand this a bit better 

[missmoneypenny]

Tell me about foxes 😡. They chewed through my leather shoes while my back was turned and I had my wellies on. It’s true, they love a trampoline session over netted veg.

[Harry998]

I use the veggiemesh ultra fine for pretty much everything now. It's much tougher than fleece, keeps the frost off and even the cabbage white don't seem to be able to lay through it so you don't need much of a frame.

I've had brassicas out since mid Feb and the net won't come off until harvest time... Much less agro than swapping about

[JayG]

My plot has regular visits from foxes and when the cubs are around, they like to play trampolines on any net tunnels.  The hoops seem to withstand this a bit better 

A few years ago the trampolining fox cubs partially flattened my enviromesh cage which was supported by canes - hoops would have fared better, but wouldn't have prevented the further damage to the mesh itself caused by their claws. 

Although I've spotted cubs most years the amount of hole-digging and trampolining does seem to vary from year to year - I just have to cross my fingers and hope to avoid the worst as there's no way to keep such athletic and enterprising animals out of my garden.

[wolveryeti]

Scaffolding debris netting has always served me well for brassicas - v. little cabbage white damage and is cheaper.

On this finer grade stuff, Wilko do something called defender mesh which is good and a bit cheaper...

[pdblake]

I use debris netting. You can get it by the roll on Ebay. Just make sure you get the UV stabilised stuff otherwise it disintegrates in the sun and makes a proper mess (yeah, did that), otherwise the stabilised stuff lasts for years.

[missmoneypenny]

Thanks for the useful tips everyone, hopefully other visitors to this thread will find them handy. I’ve gone and spent silly money on both the netting and the mesh at T&M.