Comments: Wild life

My inclination is to say to remove the 'ed' from 'planted' because if you removed it altogether it would just be a water feature.

Posted by Scoakat on 3 April, 2018 at 11:40 PM

Yes, 'ed,' final answer.

I deleted 2/3 of my prior post as I noodled it through!

Posted by Scoakat on 3 April, 2018 at 11:45 PM

Sorry I can't see from your photos, and I can't get through to the original website page to see the problem. Although I'm sure it's there.

Posted by allotmentqueen on 4 April, 2018 at 12:21 AM

The 'ed' is OK in English English Scoakat.

You don't need to see any more detail than is apparent in the pictures AQ. Two (nasty plastic - but that's not the problem) tubs, with the upper one balanced (not the problem either) on an inverted terracotta pot. Think what 'wildlife' might use it.

Posted by Blue Witch on 4 April, 2018 at 6:40 AM

It might be the right height for a wabbit to drink out of but otherwise can’t really see what it’s for. The lesser climbing newt with its crampons perhaps? No good for frogs or even birds.....

Posted by NiC on 4 April, 2018 at 7:41 PM

My immediate thought, looking at that, was 'oh, look. Mosquito breeding ground'.

Unless you use a significantly larger planter and put some fish in it or .. *sigh* I'm sure there are better ways.

Posted by Thorne on 4 April, 2018 at 7:56 PM

NiC - you've let me down ;) You're right about the frogs though, but the problem is, they won't know it's no good for them... (hint, hint)

Thorne - I hadn't even thought that far, but you are absoutely right.

Bigger clue: what would happen if a frog used it (for what frogs do, at this time of year in particular) or an insect (eg a bee) tried to drink from it?

Posted by Blue Witch on 5 April, 2018 at 8:58 AM

I’ve told all the frogs round here so they DO know¡ Other frogs should be aware that they might find it hard to get out if the do get in.

Posted by NiC on 5 April, 2018 at 1:55 PM

Any critter that climbs in there is going to struggle to get out. I had posted yesterday about attracting cats as well and ideal for them to pick off said critters but they may well fall in as well. For some reason I couldn't post comments yesterday so here's hoping this will work!

Posted by delcatto on 5 April, 2018 at 3:43 PM

*smiles happily*

We finally got there!

Build a so-called wildlife friendly water feature, attract in frogs when they are looking for places to spawn at this time of year, and then drown them because they can't get out. Well done Wyevale.

Plus, any insects landing for water will not be able to get out. They need either a slope, or pokey-out-ty objects, such as stones, to land on/take off from.

Posted by Blue Witch on 5 April, 2018 at 10:17 PM

And delcatto - I hadn't thought of the cats angle either - makes it even worse.

Posted by Blue Witch on 5 April, 2018 at 10:32 PM

Well given the cat who visits our garden I had thought it looked a good cat litter tray until the plants had grown. And last year I had to rescue a frog with a ladle who'd decided that our outside drain was a good place to be - until the washing machine disgorged its outlet of hot soapy water. Wildlife has no brains, I fear.

Posted by allotmentqueen on 6 April, 2018 at 12:08 AM

AQ - yes, wildlife do not have advanced cognition... which is why it is so wrong for Wyevale to encourage people to build things like this for them.

Posted by Blue Witch on 6 April, 2018 at 8:38 AM