[Glyn]

Just been given an allotment which needs a little bit of tidying but is not that bad. The problem is the site is a mixed site of live stock ang veg plots so there are a few rats around. Whats the best way of keeping them away from what i am gowing?

[Tigerhair]

A cat?

[shokkyy]

Be tidy. Rats like rubbish and easy food sources. Take away the food source and they'll disappear. We've got rats living in the hedgerows and fields all around, but the only time they've ever touched anything or come near the house or garden was when we had a rubbish bin standing outside the door with a lid they could easily open. I replaced it with a clip top bin and never saw them again.

[Paul Plots]

We had rats on the allotment. They seemed to disappear at around the same time the local take-away changed hands and the foxes moved onto the allotment site.

I think our foxes did a good job at discouraging them.

[Yorkie]

If you can prevent them from getting into your compost bin that will help too.  If it's a plastic dalek, try weldmesh underneath to stop them burrowing upwards into it.