RYDA Newsletter            06/2022

Slugs and snails are the bane in many gardener's lives, but, get up close to these little gastropods and you will soon realise that they are a valuable asset to the British landscape. It is believed that the average British garden contains over 20,000 slugs and snails, with a cubic metre alone housing a population of around 200 slugs.

Snails and slugs love dampness so after heavy rainfall you are likely to find more in your garden. The majority of snails act are nocturnal and don't like being exposed to sunlight.

Certain breeds of slugs and snails can consume over 500 varieties of plants and vegetation. Despite destroying healthy plants, most slugs eat decomposing vegetation, making them a vital part of the ecosystem. If you are considering growing lettuce, the Cos variety has proved the most slug resistant.

Snails aren't just a gardener’s nightmare - they can cause severe problems for dog owners too. Some snails carry lungworm a parasite which affects dogs’ heart-rates and breathing and can cause fatalities.

Slugs are hermaphrodites and can self-reproduce. If two snails mate they both become pregnant. It is possible for a single slug to amass a total of around 90,000 grandchildren. (expensive at Christmas!)

Believe it or not, slugs have the ability to bite - they have approximately 27,000 teeth! (I wonder who counted them)

While slug pellets are effective, it is possible to protect your garden from a slug and snail invasion without harming them. A natural way to dissuade gastropods from munching through your prized flower beds is to include plants which repel them in your beds. Generally, strongly smelling plants or plants with hairy stems are less likely to be an appealing feast, so try planting lavender, rosemary, cranesbills or herbaceous plants around plants you want to protect.

Vinegar is the perfect ingredient to remove slug slime and to include in slug sprays. Snails are highly intolerant to salt and will die if the white stuff is sprinkled onto them. Another method is to use plant pots with copper tape or sprinkle wood chip, gravel or crushed eggshells around your plants as gastropods dislike rougher surfaces.

Go careful though as Vinegar & salt (with a drop of washing up liquid) makes a good weed killer.  [ Recipe 1/2 gallon white distilled vinegar; 1/4 cup salt or Epsom salt; 1/2 teaspoon dish soap. – shake to dissolve salt; use in sprayer]

Hedgehogs, rodents, some bird species and ground beetles will eat slugs so encouraging them to your garden may help.

Glow worm larvae feed exclusively on slugs and snails. However, it takes them two years for the larvae to grow into adulthood, at which point they have a limited timeframe of two to three weeks to reproduce before dying.

This appeared in Plymouth Live web site recently ..........

A paint company has been charged with allowing excess levels of hazardous chemicals to get into the River Yealm at Newton Ferrers. International Paint Ltd has denied allegations over amounts of copper, mercury, arsenic and tributyltin detected in the water. 

International Paint Ltd has denied allegations over amounts of copper, mercury, arsenic and tributyltin detected in the water. The case has been brought by the Environment Agency.

Its barrister attended Plymouth Crown Court to plead not guilty to discharging hazardous waste into the Yealm Estuary between May 2015 and October 2016. Chris Badger also denied on behalf of the firm an allegation of failing to prevent the escape of the chemicals from under its control from a tank on Yealm Road.

Judge Simon Carr set a trial to take two to three weeks, starting on October 17th. International Paint Ltd, based in Slough, is one of the world's leading suppliers of marine coatings.

Planning

The Collaton development has been approved by the South Hams Council following strong support from the Parish Council.

Newton Ferrers to get 125 new homes on former RAF site as plans approved - Plymouth Live (plymouthherald.co.uk)

Whats On?

The  AGM for Yealm Community Energy Members will be held at the WI Community Hall on Tuesday 21 June at 6 p.m. 

As a supporter you are welcome to attend to learn about recent progress, and about what is likely to happen over the next few months, but voting will be restricted to members. You will be able to sign up as a member at the door by paying £1. 

This is an important time for Yealm Community Energy and we would like to hear your views and gain your support. Click  Here to see the agenda