[dan808]

Might seem a little daft but there are more than a few rats on the allotment  being surrounded by  fields and I'm a little worried about them eating or contaminating my veg. Would everything still be OK to eat

[Ema]

should be one provided its washed first you could always put some fine wire mesh around your plot if they become a problem

[Yorkie]

And protect your compost bin from rat access - e.g. wire mesh under the base if it's a dalek plastic one.

[devonbarmygardener]

And protect your compost bin from rat access - e.g. wire mesh under the base if it's a dalek plastic one.

Bu***r! I've just moved one of them today and didn't think about that!
I think the lil' devil is in the other darlek I haven't moved yet though

[cadalot]

Yorkie - what kind on mesh and do you just place your bin on it?

[Yorkie]

I don't actually use mesh under my bin (I've only had rats once, and they were stopped by a brick over the hole they'd created at the side of the bin  )

I'd probably go for small squares about 1-2" size, and probably not the weakest form of chicken wire as I suspect they'd be able to gnaw through that.

But hopefully others will advise from experience!

[yaxley]

The thickest mesh you can find really like the inch square weld mesh as chicken wire would rot quickly with all that damp compost above it and rats would possibly bite through it .

[Sparkyrog]

You want to use a heavy mesh max 25 mm as you would be surprised what they can chew through ! Yorkie a brick on the head is far better 

[sunshineband]

Our site is right by the water meadows, and two plots away there are chicken keepers.

We see rats most evenings, but usually they cause few problems.

If they are ever too numerous, one of us rings the council and they put bait down in 'protected' containers

Seems to keep them down to a fairly modest population.

I have more problems with voles tbh