Slugs and snails to get ‘image makeover’

By Katy Lewis

BBC News, Hertfordshire

A advertising and marketing campaign to give slugs and snails an “image makeover” wants gardeners to think again the feature of the excellent-maligned creatures.

The Herts and Middlesex Vegetation and fauna Belief and Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) favor to explain negative perceptions.

Making Associates with Molluscs would “arm folk with information”, organisers acknowledged, and level to how they contribute to ecosystems in a undeniable skill.

They’re “nature’s neat-up crew”, the belief acknowledged.

Marketing campaign organisers hope that by learning to “adore and co-exist” with snails and slugs, gardeners can adopt a extra environmentally friendly plan.

Simplest a miniature fraction of about 150 species of molluscs in the UK pose problems for gardeners, with the majority contributing positively to the ecosystem, the belief acknowledged.

They feed on rotting plant life, fungi and dung – and encourage recycle nitrogen, vitamins and minerals reduction into the soil.

Creatures similar to frogs, thrushes, and ground beetles, rely on them for meals and they’re also section of a hedgehog’s diet.

Due to this truth by supporting molluscs, an array of flora and fauna is sooner or later supported, the belief acknowledged.

The belief, with the RHS, has produced a info with tips to “are living harmoniously alongside slugs and snails”.

These encompass increasing habitats which might well per chance well well make them less likely to project into vegetable beds and selecting plant life less dazzling to them or are extra resilient to their feeding habits, similar to lavender and hydrangeas.

It also suggests implementing boundaries, similar to copper tape and wool pellets, to encourage protect susceptible plant life.

Heidi Mansell, from the belief, acknowledged the molluscs made “a treasured contribution to the ecosystem” however had been “customarily viewed as garden pests”.

“It’s stunning they get no longer have the enchantment of some of our better-loved garden visitors… however they’re a wanted meals supply for these species and others,” she acknowledged.

“Plus, let’s credit them with the sure assistance that they supply to gardeners; helping to neat up decay and enriching the soil – what’s no longer to treasure.

“By arming folk with academic information about these lesser-identified creatures, together with functional tips and advice for gardeners, we might well give slugs and snails an image makeover.

“Let’s embrace these slimy and shelled garden company, in place of attempting to rid our gardens of them with pesticides, which will trigger hurt to diversified flora and fauna too.”

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