[sheridan]

Well, I now have 5 seed ready beds in my new allotment. I would really like to pop some seedlings in over the next few weeks, but I know there's a problem with rabbits there. As it's quite unlikely i'll get hold of enough fencing material for a few months, what can I do in the meantime? My "new" allotment yielded up some sticks, some metal rods, and little else in the way of construction. I was thinking of buying some fleece and making an enclosure with old wire coathangers, but would this deter them enough? Or should I scrounge plastic bottles?I'm really not sure how tenacious they are in getting to things. Any cheap ideas?

We are allowed to shoot them, apparently!

[Sweetpea C]

Hello,

We also have a rabbit problem and everyone seems to be using chicken wire or the plastic equivalent.

I will say that they haven't gone for my spuds, onions or garlic yet - but they are covered now. I put some green beans in today so we'll wait and see what is left tomorrow!

Good luck.

[Trillium]

As long as there's open access, rabbits will go for it though they'll choose garlic and spuds last, if at all. They much prefer leafy things like brassicas, peas, beans, lettuce, etc. One lettuce they usually avoid is romaine for some reason (which is great for the gardener).

If you know rabbits are a problem, then you'll need to get hold of some fencing. Ask friends and coworkers if they have any unneeded fending about 2 ft high, or check freecycle and other such places.

[shokkyy]

I've got a rabbit warren in my garden, but I don't find it too difficult to keep it out of my veggie beds. I just use chicken wire, some of which is fixed as a permanent barrier and some just rigged up temporarily using canes threaded through the wire. To be honest, the dogs do more damage than the rabbits, but the chicken wire is pretty good at keeping them out too.

[8doubles]

If there are large numbers of rabbits coming from a neighbours land they have a legal obligation to control them.

This may be of interest,

 http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/regulation/wildlife/species/rabbits.aspx#legal

[sheridan]

Looks like the quicker I can get a fence put in the better! Until then, chicken wire will have to do, cobbled together from the bits i've got left from my chicken run.

The problem is that we are in the middle of farmland, even the farmer struggles!

[shokkyy]

Yep, I'm surrounded by farmland too, as well as having a warren in our garden. But you can usually co-exist with the local wildlife with a bit of thought and a well-planned barricade. The good news is they don't just eat veggies, they also eat weeds

[8doubles]

Looks like the quicker I can get a fence put in the better! Until then, chicken wire will have to do, cobbled together from the bits i've got left from my chicken run.

The problem is that we are in the middle of farmland, even the farmer struggles!

In a rural environment a good marksman can take the pressure off a lot as can askiing the local ferreter to work the closest buries hard in winter to keep the numbers low.

As you say chicken wire is your best bet until the roe deer turn up !