[Madame Cholet]

Hi I'm setting up a veg, herb, fruit and edible flower plot as a charity project for horticultural therapy.

It in  clearing in the middle of the woods. How do I stop everthing being eaten by deer rabbits ect. It's a small enough area to be enclosed.
thanks rachel

[min200]

Lots and lots of netting??

[Madame Cholet]

How deep, how high any type?
thanks

[Yorkie]

A lotty site near me has rabbit problems and the plots there have metal fencing, dug down into the ground (not sure how deep) and about 3' high above ground.  But I suspect that deer might jump over that so not sure how you'd keep them out 

[PennyS]

Hi

Rabbits are a huge problem on our allotments so I'm currently working round mine rabbit-proofing it.  I've got small gauge chicken wire (I think from memory it has to have holes 1 inch or smaller) and I'm burying the first 6inches horizontally in the ground, bent to the outside.  The chicken wire is 3ft or 3ft 6 so the finished height of the barrier is either 2ft 6 or 3ft.  I got my wire from an eBay store and I think 50 metres cost me about £35 including postage - I didn't think that was bad.

I know it probably won't ever be completely rabbit proof but I'm hoping if I make it a bit tricky they might try elsewhere :-)

hth Penny 

[pipfit]

Have had no problem with Rabbits Or deer since i erected a wire netting fence about 10 "folded outwards and buried 4 to 6"deep used scrap pipe and cable ties to secure its abour 3ft high

[Trillium]

That should do for rabbit prevention. Deer won't be deterred if they're hungry. They'll jump over anything they can see through (so they know where to land) so some people I know put up 6 ft tall solid wooden fencing and never had deer trouble again. But I'd first see how bad the deer problem is before going to such expense.

[Jonajo]

lots of netting and the like for sure will help.

I have opted for touch-sensitive metal pads around the beds, linked to an electricity generator: creature walks on pad, it gets stunned and zapped with 5000V. Problem sorted. But it is messy which is the only downside.

[Babstreefern]

I would have thought having 5000v touch the deer/rabbit, you would end up have BBQ meat , and depending on what time of year, with 3 veg.

[Filament]

I have opted for touch-sensitive metal pads around the beds, linked to an electricity generator: creature walks on pad, it gets stunned and zapped with 5000V. Problem sorted. But it is messy which is the only downside.

Sounds a bit cruel to me. Its one thing trying to stop wildlife eating your veg, but stunning and zapping seems a bit over the top. I sure hope you don't step on those pads by mistake.