The War of the Worlds or Invertebrate Supremacy Challenged

Last night, having returned home from Derbyshire at 60mph, not because of "an incident" on the M1, but because I am now watching my fuel consumption with an attentiveness unmatched since Suez, I went to collect the eggs very late at night.

Faith and Hope were cuddled up like good little hens and I reached in and removed two eggs.

Returning to the light of the kitchen I discovered that cradled in my hand in addition to to two lovely eggs I had a cluster of moving little red dots which inspection revealed to be a regiment of red mites. Each very full of blood from my precious hens.

Clearly a trip to Countrywide to collect the parasite equivalent of Agent Orange is now called for.

Whilst I am there I might just succumb and and collect cannister of slug destroyer.

Sadly I haven't seen a hedgehog here in years and if I sprinkle it down the cracks in the raised veg beds the birds will not be able to access the corpses so I will not be contributing to "A Silent Spring"

There must be limit to how much one is expected to tithe to Agriolimax reticulatus.
I have already circled the pots with copper strip which they in theory cannot cross, lies all lies.

I have sprayed copper silicate liberally around the beans and cabbage etc and have still watched my lettuces cut into a very attractive lace pattern. Nothing more intricate ever adorned a victorian sofa back.

I have a very bad feeling that without a nuclear option I will lose this battle.