[tony thompson]

After quite a successful first year on the allotment I have just returned from two weeks holiday to find that so much of my winter cabbage and brussel sprouts have been eaten right down by I believe rabbits!!  Has anyone any idea how I can stop these pesky things from enjoying first class meals at my expense?

[WG.]

Permanent fencing is the best way to go.  4ft high chicken wire with the first 12 inches folded flat outside the fence.

[Annie]

Try a search on this site,I only had one bunny but loads of advice.

[David.]

On line fencing guide


I found the cheapest fencing at Wilkos but I only buy when they sell it off in Autumn at up to 75% off. There will be none there until they sell off the Christmas goods and get gardening products back in store. The only sell 600mm & 900mm (rarely reduced) but you can cut rolls/join together to required height by threaded some Wilkos wire (99p for 20m - again bought when reduced) through at the join (also useful to thread through the to to keep taught).

Posts from skips. Old garden gazebo poles are OK for intermediate posts and you can tap a piece of batten in the top (before fixing) if you want to drill a hole for a top wire.

[milkman]

It may be worth checking it definately wasn't pigeons first by chatting with other plot holders, they do love cabbages and such like - it may save you a lot of fencing expense...

[Lynne]

We have big rabbit problems and the only solution we have found is what WG. suggests. We use galvanised mesh which is cheaper if you can get it from a farmers supply shop (although still pricey). Most important though is to bury it about 6 inches in the ground with a height above ground of 3 feet.

[amc]

I built a fence as WG suggest round my plots otherwise i'd have nothing left! I just walk all the way round the fence once or twice a year to check the blighters haven't found a way in... I got my fencing and straining wire from an agricultural merchants, posts were salvaged.

In addition to Davids reference,  an online rabbit fence guide from the Ministry: http://naturalengland.twoten.com/naturalenglandshop/docs/tin023.pdf

and from the forestery commision pages 2 and 3 with pics of suitable fencing: http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/PDF.nsf/pdf/fcpn2.pdf/$FILE/fcpn2.pdf

[Rampant_Weasel]

get hold of a large aggressive cat and starve it a while, then let it loose :twisted:  :twisted:

[tony thompson]

Thanks to WG and all who have given very useful advice.  I have even tried a scarecrow, ( mainly for the look on my grandchildrens faces!!) but the rabbits seem to see that as a meeting point judging by the amount of droppings around it!!.
I have spoken to the Council who run the site and they are thinking of contacting the local pest controller who has a big gun and is employed almost full time by the local police headquarters to keep the rabbits down on their large site of field and grass.   I have just cut off my remaining brussels and had a first class feed tonight the rest will go into the freezer.

[Bigbadfrankie]

A fence is the only real answer. Our garden is surrounded by heath land and bunnys. We fence but even then they find ways in and out(straight up and over if they see the gun) :shock: