[fletch]

I have 6 or 7 currant bushes, a mixture of red, white and black. They were on the plot when I took it over and were very overgrown so in winter I cut them all right back to 8inch stubs.
They have grown well this year and are in good condition. I appreciate I won't get any currants but not too bothered this year.

Anyway, over the last week or two I noticed the odd snapped branch and just put it down to the wind. However today I have noticed that they are all in a terrible state, with a few bent/broken branches each and one of them looks like it's been sat on!

It's not vandals (although that's what it looks like) as the rest of the plot is pristine, it's just the currants.

What would do this?

[corndolly]

I've noticed similar damage to some of the blackcurrant bushes we have , I think it may be pigeons or magpies. The branches will be quite fragile this year ,as they are new growth ,I suppose covering them would help .

I will be thinning some branches  leaving some to fruit next year. Currants fruit on last years growth. I am trying to get this pruning business right ,must have done it wrong last year cos there's very little fruit .

Loads of gooseberries and redcurrants though, these are protected with a mesh cover.