65 feet.

[Kirk]

It seems that 65 feet is the magic number.

That is how far you seem to have to "relocate" a snail such that it's homing ability is no longer any use and it does not return to eat all the lovely grren plants that you are growing and want to see achieving maturity.

Reported this morning on BBC News, so it MUST be correct.

Slight difference of opinion on the report if you gently relocated them 65ft or if you had to be able to throw them 65ft.

Wonder if snail throwing is going to be included in the RHS courses: Pass = distance >=65ft, Fail = <65ft.

[petep]

I read a report by a UK university that found snail populations in a controlled area (such as an enclosed garden) stayed roughly the same no matter how many you threw into your neighbour's garden - I mean, relocated to a suitable place. They apparently have an optimum population size and will reproduce to maximise the use of the area but won't overpopulated it, but if there is spare capacity because a large number have gone AWOL, they will get busy again. That's a fairly basic equation in nature.

The report effectively concluded that leaving the snails alone was as good as getting rid of as many as you could find because you would never find all of them and they would repopulate the area to fill the space.

Clearly those scientists weren't Gardeners.


Sent from my iPad using Grow Your Own Forum

[DannyRam]

It seems that 65 feet is the magic number.

That is how far you seem to have to "relocate" a snail such that it's homing ability is no longer any use and it does not return to eat all the lovely grren plants that you are growing and want to see achieving maturity.

Reported this morning on BBC News, so it MUST be correct.

Slight difference of opinion on the report if you gently relocated them 65ft or if you had to be able to throw them 65ft.

Wonder if snail throwing is going to be included in the RHS courses: Pass = distance >=65ft, Fail = <65ft.

Perhaps a new olympic sport - tossing the snail!!

[Bill HH]

A catapult is a handy tool.

Behind my back garden wall is a little used road, I chuck them over there, if they can make it back across a road and over a 6ft wall I reckon the deserve a bit of lettuce.

[Alison]

I've just had a bit of a rant about this on another thread, why does anybody think it's acceptable to relocate your pests to somebody else's property? It's not so deal with them and why on earth was this ever passed as valid research? Grrrrrrrrrrr


Sent from my iPad using Grow Your Own Forum

[Mikey]

I wonder who dreamt up this little research and who did they get to fund it..

[arpoet]

Hows about collecting snails and firing them with a catapult at the flying pigs when they come to attack the cabbages. Sort of Killing 2 birds with one stone, so to speak.

[Kirk]

I've just had a bit of a rant about this on another thread, why does anybody think it's acceptable to relocate your pests to somebody else's property? It's not so deal with them and why on earth was this ever passed as valid research? Grrrrrrrrrrr


Sent from my iPad using Grow Your Own Forum

I claim by rereading wot I wrote that at no time did I say "relocate to someone else's garden".
I kept it neutral by just saying "relocate". Ain't that dumb yet, maybe close but not quite there.

Relocating to someone else's garden is the sort of thing that people in South Wales do (>> VC <<).
There's a thought, stand on the Bristol side and fire them over the channel.

[Alison]

I claim by rereading wot I wrote that at no time did I say "relocate to someone else's garden".
I kept it neutral by just saying "relocate". Ain't that dumb yet, maybe close but not quite there.

Relocating to someone else's garden is the sort of thing that people in South Wales do (>> VC <<).
There's a thought, stand on the Bristol side and fire them over the channel.

I was more basing it on the news story earlier which talked about throwing them over the fence which in many places would mean somebody else's garden. Very irritating.


Sent from my iPad using Grow Your Own Forum

[veggiechicken]

Relocating to someone else's garden is the sort of thing that people in South Wales do (>> VC <<).
There's a thought, stand on the Bristol side and fire them over the channel.

Oi You!! I've never relocated a snail to someone else's garden in my life. However, if you could add your location to your profile, it would give me somewhere to aim for.

Actually, I like snails, they fascinate me, especially the Banded ones.
Here are some snails from my garden last year - and they stayed where I found them

[mothhawk]

I've just had a bit of a rant about this on another thread, why does anybody think it's acceptable to relocate your pests to somebody else's property? It's not so deal with them and why on earth was this ever passed as valid research? Grrrrrrrrrrr

It may not be acceptable but I believe it's legally permitted, because snails are classed as wild animals, and you have the right to remove a wild animal from your property any way you can (protected species excepted of course). At least that's how it used to be, but times may have moved on...

[Alison]

It may not be acceptable but I believe it's legally permitted, because snails are classed as wild animals, and you have the right to remove a wild animal from your property any way you can (protected species excepted of course). At least that's how it used to be, but times may have moved on...

Am sure it is legal but it's still bad manners.


Sent from my iPad using Grow Your Own Forum

[Kirk]

VC, if you send them to SA32 8HN, that should do.
Not quite where I am, actually the complete wrong direction and by MANY miles, but should be amusing.

[alldigging]

I've just had a bit of a rant about this on another thread, why does anybody think it's acceptable to relocate your pests to somebody else's property? It's not so deal with them and why on earth was this ever passed as valid research? Grrrrrrrrrrr


Sent from my iPad using Grow Your Own Forum

I think it's hugely irresponsible journalism making such a thing about it. People are going to be throwing snails about and it's going to be unpleasant.

[Bill HH]

I was more basing it on the news story earlier which talked about throwing them over the fence which in many places would mean somebody else's garden. Very irritating.


Sent from my iPad using Grow Your Own Forum

However it is acceptable to throw back the ones your neighbour has thrown over to you. Bless