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Edited by Dynamic Dave on 24/08/2009 at 21:49
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At the back of my garden is a 6 foot wooden fence, under which the local ferocious and enormous badger population have dug a tunnel, in order to access our garden at night time. I'm charmed that they have chosen us, and often enjoy glimpsing them at night through the windows when they think all is quiet in the house.
However, I have a small dog (Jack Russell), who is understandably very excited by the prospect of chasing badgers, and often does so, escaping into my neighbours' garden and driveway. Not only do I consider this to be an imposition upon the neighbours which I want to stop, but it also gives the dog free access to the road, across which I fear it will run at an inopportune moment.
For many a year I have tried plugging the hole with rocks and extremely heavy concrete rubble, however the badgers are strong enough to move it, and have also, in their frustration, smashed clean through other fence panels in order to go where they please.
The only solutions I can think of are:
1) Keep the dog on a lead at all times in the garden, however this is really not practical nor fair to the dog.
2) Build a brick wall to replace the fence with foundations deep enough to deter burrowing badgers, however this is an expensive option with no guarantee of success. Not only that, it's the neighbours' boundary, and would therefore need their OK. It may make the situation worse and more dangerous as I expect the badgers will simply tunnel as deep as they need.
Do any of you practical minded people have any other suggestions I might try?
Edited by Alanovich on 18/08/2009 at 15:17
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I have seen 'otter fencing' being installed along the highway bounday. Basically a trench is dug on the 'otter side' of the existing fence and galvanised mesh fencing is buried vertically into the trench, and then bent back at its base towards where the otters are coming from. The trench is then backfilled. If the horizontal part is deep enough, the otter will not be able to break through the mesh.
Seems to work well with otters, but not sure how stong badgers are.
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There are remnants of previous chicken wire style fences at various parts of the boundary hidden away in hedges - suggesting to me that the badgers have defeated that type of fence.
Got a feeling I'm on to a loser here.
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Badgers are a lot bigger than otters. They come through the fence panels according to the OP! Tricky situation to solve.
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Dont know anything about badgers, but I have seen heavy duty steel mesh security fencing which is embedded in a concrete filled trench. It stops protesters digging into military areas, and cutting through, but not throwing carpets over the razor wire on the top! It is made of closley spaced steel rods. You would not need the full height fence, and the trench depth is your choice.
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But they might come through the fence panels still. And this would be unsightly as the fence and you could see through to the neighbours property.
It sounds like it might be a case of keeping the dog from getting away rather than the badgers out.
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Try 'badgers in your garden':
www.nfbg.org.uk/content/Living.asp
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Try 'badgers in your garden': www.nfbg.org.uk/content/Living.asp
Lion dung? :-)
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Thanks Focus, that's a good 'un.
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See:
www.badgerlearningzone.com/badger-facts.php
Battle on your hands...:-(
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Chicken wire is only a short term solution, if that.
Twilweld, used for aviaries, is much better and comes in a large variety of mesh sizes so you can choose something really appropriate. It's also heavily galvanised so will last for years.
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train the dog to not go under the holes in the fence.
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train the dog to not go under the holes in the fence.
Yep. Training a 10 year old Jack Russell (dogs specifically bred to chase furry things down wee holes) not to run after wild furry things whenever it sees fit is an absolute piece of cake. Don't know why I didn't think of it myself. Perhaps pieces of bacon in my pockets are the answer.
Ever heard of King Canute?
;-)
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Actually that was my exact reaction when I read the suggestion...:-)
Edited by Stuartli on 18/08/2009 at 18:24
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hey just because you cant train it not to, does not mean its not possible. It is.
You are closer with the pieces of bacon in your pocket than you think..
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hey just because you cant train it not to does not mean its not possible. It is. You are closer with the pieces of bacon in your pocket than you think..
AE, I appreciate your input, and I am aware of dog training methods, however I have a particular problem with training this dog in that it suffers from a bowel condition and can only be fed a particular prescription dry food. I can not give it treats such as bacon for fear of the after effects. A few pieces of bland crunchy stuff which it's going to get for dinner anyway is not sufficient inducement for the dog to behave how I would wish.
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The local solution here in Sussex seems to be to run them over......
I am surprised there are any badgers left alive anywhere looking at the dead ones SWMBO and I spotted on trip two weeks ago from helicopter towers to the NT gardens and house at Hinton Ampner in Hampshire .
Five dead ones by the roadside ( and a deer).
Seriously - the best solution is to try and keep the dog away from the badgers and enjoy their antics in your garden. Don't underestimate their strength and ability to circumvent or get through any fence you may put up.
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Write to your MP to ask them to take badgers of the protected species list. They spread TB and cause widespread damage.
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the badgers round here dig up the roads more often than the council. yes the young ones are cute and fluffy but the big ones are a menace to the countryside.
and they do a h*ll of a lot of damage if you hit one in the car, wrote of a mates vectra.
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>>They spread TB>>
Has this actually been proved, rather than make a definitive statement?
www.badgers.org.uk/badgerpages/eurasian-badger-26....l
www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/tb/abouttb/badgers.htm
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/8136288.stm
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Badgers occasionally become resident in my garden by evicting the fox. They are most unwelcome, and dig a lot of large holes in the lawn.
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How about one of those radio senders that give the dog a shock when it passes a boundary defined by the transmitter range, or a buried, boundary wire. The fence damage seems to be your neighbours problem.
I kept my cat and dog off my veg patch with a low voltage (50V), single strand, wire fence. After a couple of weeks the power was disconnected, the wire was sufficient deterrent.
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You could even put the electric fencing on the OUTSIDE which would deter any mammals that might wish to damage your fence.
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Write to your MP to ask them to take badgers of the protected species list. They spread TB and cause widespread damage.
I live in farming country in the thick of it but do not farm. I have lots of friends and neighbours that do though and it is wildly accepted that Badgers carry TB and are a nuisance. I do not accept this blindly. Lots of things that look cuddly aren't. You must never judge a book by it's cover. In addition that Badger could kill your dog no problem. Get rid of Brock for he is a mean menace.
MD
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widely even!!!
Maybe you were right first time?
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Wonder what roast badger tastes like ?
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like rCap apparently. you wouldn't want to eat a disese ridden trash can would you?
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Have you thought about a pet burmese python? Surely one of those would be more than a match for a badger...
Actually, thinking about it, perhaps not such a good idea for your Jack Russels long term well being either....
Edited by njgleeds on 18/08/2009 at 23:05
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These badgers get everywhere:
tinyurl.com/pbpf8f
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have a look at this, i aplogise in advance.
tinyurl.com/p2tm
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I had a major Badger problem once upon a time - back in 87 when we lived in Hastings.
I had a five year battle with the critters and it must have disturbed the balance of my mind because I went out and bought a .22 hunting rifle with Superscope telescopic sight, taped on a high powered torch and went a'hunting one night!
What led up to this was the fact of having fences and side gates broken and (at one time) coming home from my Holiday in Cornwall to find my recently laid lawn resembling the Somme or Flanders in WW1.
The best thing is to move like wot I did, failing that ya have to put in a wire fence starting below* the the ground level so they can't dig under (they will!)
When we moved to Cornwall, we had 2 acres and they used to come right up to our front door & I would feed them (peanuts) on the doorstep which went some way to making amends.
When we acquired a mutt they stopped coming up (big mutt)
Edited by rtj70 on 19/08/2009 at 09:38
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Bear in mind that if following perro's advice:
1. You will require a firearms licence for your rifle.
2. Killing badgers is illegal. (Nonsensically. Just because they're furry.)
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>>>Bear in mind that if following perro's advice:
1. You will require a firearms licence for your rifle.<<<
Thank's for that Mapmaker, I wouldn't normally advocate *anyone* resorting to WMD's but, as I say - I was at my wits end after 5 years battle with sed critters.
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Try contact your local pest control officer- this is a menace and needs to be dealt with.
contact a local gamekeeper- he can either trap them or deal them with in lots of ways.
I dont know what would deter a badger- tiger dung from the local zoo? try the badger protection society? I believe there is one.
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 21/08/2009 at 13:40
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Thanks for everyone's advice on this. I have a representative from the Badgers Trust visiting next week to advise me. Sounds like they can point me in teh direction of people who install badger proof fencing and even cat-flap style badger gates whcih should be too heavy for my wee dog to operate. Sounds hopeful, if expensive.
Cheers all.
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This problem was mentioned on Gardener's Question Time on Radio 4 this week - the successful solution used by one of the panellists was an electric fence - only a foot high. Wonder if you could borrow one from a local farmer or horse owner? Would also deter your dog - mine give them a very wide berth.
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Sorry to come late to this.
We also are plagued by a badger - he has undermined our summerhouse and dug a succession of holes under our fence - as soon as we filled one in and blocked it off with a paving stone buried on its edge it dug another next door. In desperation we left him one hole in an inconspicuous place but that doesn't stop the little sod digging up the lawn. Oh, and he's now decided one hole is not enough.
Ultrasonic scarer worse than useless.
Local country folk told me that broken glass is the only answer - they hate the feel of it on their paws. Worked on hole number 2 and thinking of going for broke now with the original hole.
But would the dog be sensible enough not to walk on it?
Terryb
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Same here. Thought he'd gone when I saw the fox return, but no he's still around under my workshop (multiple tunnels with alarmingly large piles of soil outside).
I'm not a proud gardener, but those holes in the lawn are a real pain when trying to mow.
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But would the dog be sensible enough not to walk on it?
Wouldn't want to risk it. And I have two small children (4 and 1), so broken glass in the garden isn't a good idea.
The "Badger Man" is coming in a day or so, and, as there has been more interest in this question than I had anticipated, I'll update the thread with his advice, my actions and the outcome.
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It's nice to know you're not alone with the problem. Doesn't solve it, but nice to know!
Terryb
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What about Silent Roar ? www.silentroaronline.com/
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Interesting, but I'd be sceptical as to whether an English Badger would be scared by the scent of an animal with which its species would have had no natural contact.
I'd think they would be more put off by the scent of a domesticated dog, or even a human were I inclined to, erm, irrigate my own garden personally (I'm not). But they're not.
How would they know what a lion smells like, and how would they know that they should be scared of one in any case? Might as well try duck-billed platypus droppings, I'd have thought!
Incidentally, these are dashed big badgers. A guest at my house on Friday evening caught sight of one sauntering past my patio doors. Not expecting to see movement through the glass, he visibly jumped out of his chair and shouted "What the .... was THAT?" The guest in question is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Paras and not given to taking fright easily.
Edited by Alanovich on 24/08/2009 at 15:32
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As I understand this, shop security guards have no more legal authority than "the man in the street". They can make a citizens arrest if they suspect that a crime has been committed ie shop lifting, but do not have the right of search? Correct?
By the way this is hypothetical as a result of a pub discussion!!!
Edited by geoff1248 on 18/08/2009 at 22:36
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It could be that they are "accredited persons" of course, under the scheme that allows those such as security guards, bouncers (and it would seem almost anybody else the police approve) to both fine members of the public and have access in some form to the police computer.
See tinyurl.com/ms63aw for example.
So it's possible they have at least some more powers than you do.
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security guards bouncers (and it would seem almost anybody else the police approve) to both fine members of the public and have access in some form to the police computer.
What happens if a bouncer tells you that you are going to be fined and you ask him if he enjoys sex and travel?
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He will enquire of you if your mother can sew. Or perhaps if you enjoy hospital food.
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Judging by what I have seen on the various Cops in Action type TV programmes, security guards and bouncers quickly have the police on the scene for shoplifters etc.
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They carry handcuffs (quite lawfully in some areas)
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My work colleagues apprehended a miscreant breaking into a car. Their work involved using cable ties. They used them to, erm, tether him to a lamppost. They thought the lamppost might fall!
No problem resulted.
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Which bit did they tether to the lamppost??? I know what I'd have gone for!! (No answer necessary!!)
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We're off next week on a long-promised (to JBJ junior) trip to Windsor, but having heard tales of long queues (in the park, not on the road) we wondered if there was a 'good' day to go, e.g. Monday. Of course, others may have the same idea, rendering Saturday the quiet one, but somehow I doubt it!
All contributions welcome, however anecdotal.. :-)
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i went there as a kid and rember queing. you could ask them if they know how many coaches are coming on the day you want to go. each one will be about 50 kids.
any idea on park capacity? might give a clue to que times.
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i went there as a kid and rember queing.
Whippersnapper - doesn't seem that long ago that it was a safari park...
If you can aim to be at the gates when they open* and jog straight over to the 'best' one(s) when you're let in (probably quicker not to take the train down the hill), you should get a few in without too much queuing. After that, just grin and bare it - sorry, don't know which day is best.
Has junior got a DS or something to pass the time while queuing (best you look after it though)?
* car parks open before park gates open
Edited by Focus {P} on 20/08/2009 at 12:10
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"Has junior got a DS..?"
If he did, I'd be driving it.. :-)
Good point, though - worth taking. I didn't know about the car parks, either, so thanks for that. Thanks to everyone else for their replies, too - I never fail to be surprised at the breadth of knowledge here!
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>> i went there as a kid and rember queing. Whippersnapper - doesn't seem that long ago that it was a safari park...
Whippersnapper - doesn't seem that long ago that it was the winter quarters of a zoo...
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I'd recommend renting a Qbot.
I was morally against it at first, as I'm not a fan of the two tier customer model - but having got it Max it out!
From memory you say which ride you'd like to go on, it gives you a time and you turn up - brilliant.
The cost £10 per person, so it can be quite expensive. We just got the nippers one each.
Have a great time, it was one of the best family activities we've ever done.
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10% discount if you buy tickets online - I don't think you have to select a date.
www.legoland.co.uk/planyourvisit/ticketsandprices/...m
Annual passes good value if you intend going back (although single ticket entitles 1 free return in Sept/Oct).
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10% discount if you buy tickets online
Also have a look on eBay - lots of tickets and vouchers.
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Think my Mrs managed to use her Nectar points to buy the tickets a few years back. (Dont know whether that is still the case.)
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Tesco clubcard vouchers are worth the usual 4 times face value against Legoland entry,plus the soaraway Sun had 2 get in the price of 1 vouchers a couple of weeks back, they seem to do them fairly regularly.
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Thanks. We do have some half-price vouchers, which have effectively made it affordable!
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I know I am a bit out of touch with the mainstream in the UK, but can somebody tell me what 'minted' means? Somebody used it to describe my car but they didn't mean 'mint', which it isn't.
I also saw in it used in Sniffpetrol, which is back at last.
Edited by mike hannon on 22/08/2009 at 11:56
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Minted means rich, wealthy. At least it has always done so in the North West.
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I know I am a bit out of touch with the mainstream in the UK ...........
Here's a dictionary of slang. www.peevish.co.uk/slang/m.htm
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Driving round Shepherd's Bush Green recently, I went past the Westfield Shopping centre.
I have a recollection of the company that was on that site previously.
Does anyone remember the name of the company, what they did and what happened to them?
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OK I declare I am a proud Scotsman and know hee-haw about cricket. Watching it on TV is really boring..
he runs up, he throws the ball he hits the ball.....
even more boring on radio!!!!!
However I understand from my days of playing rounders about getting runs and hitting over boundaries.
But what is "declared"???
Apparently Engerland did this today in some burnt cinders competition. Not sure what the qualifying rules re for that competition but always seems to be the same teams that get through to the final!!! :)
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I'm with you know knowing about some of the rules (I'm Welsh) but a Google finds:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Declaration_and_forfeiture
Not read it but I suspect declaring rather than being all out is tactical. If Australia did not have enough time for their innings then it could end up a draw I think. England ought to get them out before they get enough runs.
Edited by rtj70 on 22/08/2009 at 23:46
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The reason for the declaration is simple. England declared because they were 545 runs ahead with more than two days still remaining to take all 11 Australian second innings wickets (hopefully!)
As the record fourth innings runs chase, set six years ago by West Indies against Australia, is 418 for seven, you will see the magnitude of Australia's task. They hit 80 runs without loss before close of play, a figure exactly half of their all out first innings total.
A list of the highest fourth innings winning totals can be found at:
www.itsonlycricket.com/entry/621/
Edited by Stuartli on 23/08/2009 at 01:12
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Watching iton TV is really boring.. he runs up he throws the ball he hits the ball..... even more boring on radio!!!!!
Was it not George Bernard Shaw who said `The English as a nation have no concept of eternity,so God gave them cricket to remedy the situation`
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Cricket appears harmless enough. Except of course when they start throwing and hitting that nasty hard ball at each other.......Most of the rest of the time it seems to be a case of standing around in dubious clothes and going for tea when it rains but at least usually someone wins I gather.
Far more difficult to grasp is why some get so exercised about football. Vast sums of money are spent by spectators and sponsors to watch the in turn vastly overpaid people trying to kick a ball between some wood. Quite often they fail to do that in the time allowed and have to do it again another day. Meanwhile the spectators shout and sing rude things at them, the referee and each other and then get into a fight.
;-)
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Watching top professional sportsmen and sportswomen exhibit their skills, no matter what the sport, is always something to savour.
As for "overpaid people trying to kick a ball between some wood", these are the most important assets at any leading club and, although their financial rewards are high, so they are too for the clubs they represent.
When all is said and done, football clubs these days are big business and their employees (i.e. the players) reap the rewards of the clubs' financial success.
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I happened to be in Kennington yesterday afternoon, about half a mile away from the Oval. Terrifically exciting sound each time a wicket fell.
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Son has been advised to upgrade from his student trombone, and the instrument we're looking at (Conn 88h open wrap) appears to be ~£1700 online in this country and ~$2000 or ~£1220 in the States.
However I'm not sure what the real cost would be of importing from the States - presumably I'd be charged VAT (making it ~£1400), but is there the equivalent of VAT which could be taken off by the seller at his end?
Also, I've tried looking up the import duty on a trombone on the TARIC database, and got a figure of 3.2% (~£1450) - does that sound about right?
Cheers
F
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Sales tax in the States varies from State to State. I'm not sure you can get it back either.
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Due to American paranoia with regard to security, many US firms will not export goods abroad.
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I'm a bit skeptical about 'advice to upgrade' musical instruments, for which there will always be a better model, just out of reach (cf. golf clubs, cameras, hi-fi, etc).
If he really needs it, all well and good, but it might be worth debating with other users, somewhere like this, say:
www.tromboneforum.org/
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I'm a bit skeptical about 'advice to upgrade' musical instruments
Thanks JBJ - both SWMBO and myself play in concert (AKA wind) bands and we knew this was on the cards. He's 12 and will be taking his grade 6 hopefully later this year, and his Yamaha 'student' instrument, already a bit tatty when we bought it second hand, is starting to hold him back. It was a trombonist in my wife's band who recommended the Conn.
Obviously if we were really hard up we wouldn't be spending this much money, but we think we can afford it* and we hope it will be worth it. I know I'm very grateful for the similarly expensive clarinet my parents bought me about 30 years ago, which I'm still playing.
Looks like we'll be holding on to the 8 year old Focus estate a bit longer though... :-)
* however a second hand one for ~£1000 is looking more attractive
Edited by Focus {P} on 23/08/2009 at 21:35
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They ain't Children for long. Give them the best if you can and if, of course, they put things to good use.
Best...MD
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It sounds as though you know what you're doing! I was going to suggest s/hand, but wasn't sure what sort of saving was possible. Good instruments don't depreciate quite like cars!
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Anyone know of any good European online musical instrument shops that sell trombones? Just wondering how their prices compare.
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Thomann is a German company with a wide 'net presence. A bass-playing friend of mine gets his gear from them, and I've been using them for theatre stuff. They do most things - I had a quick look yesterday...
www.thomann.de/gb/cgconn.html
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Thomann is a German company with a wide 'net presence.
Thanks - looks like they're a bit cheaper than UK, but there's not a lot in it.
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Some possible sources:
www.maestrosmusic.co.uk/tonystrombones/page26.aspx
tinyurl.com/kpkbmh
www.dawsons.co.uk/acatalog/trombones.html
www.woodwindandbrass.co.uk/
www.band-supplies.co.uk/
There are a number of other similar websites.
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Some possible sources:
Apologies - by 'European' I meant EU but non-UK.
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See:
www.megamusicshop.com/
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...Looks like we'll be holding on to the 8 year old Focus estate a bit longer though... :-)...
Focus,
Speaking as a music lover who cannot play a note, I think what you are trying to do by supporting the lad is marvellous and I wish him well with his playing.
Worth a small sacrifice, as you say, and you and I both know an old Focus, like an old raincoat, will never let you down. :)
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Worth a small sacrifice
Small?? :-)
as you say and you and I both know an old Focus like an old raincoat will never let you down. :)
I'd never say it - wouldn't want to tempt fate...
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See:
Thanks - prices look similar to those in JBJ's link.
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Focus, have you thought of contacting some of the music colleges - some student may also be up-grading or changing their instrument? My s-i-l upgraded her harp while in her final year at Trinity College some years ago, so others are bound to be doing the same with their instruments.
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Focus have you thought of contacting some of the music colleges
I hadn't, but could be worth a go, thanks.
Actually we've found one chap who's selling his and it sounds promising, but he's currently in negotiations with another buyer. We're next on his list if it falls through (as it has done 4 times already apparently).
Unfortunately (but obviously) the more expensive instruments don't appear on the second hand market as frequently as the cheap ones.
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Funnily enough there's one on E-Bay now !
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Is this of any interest?
musicinstrument.biz/
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Is this of any interest?
Thanks - I've looked on a number of second hand instrument sites like (and possibly including) this one, and it was on two of those that I saw the one we're currently after.
The site you mention doesn't have an 88h at the moment, but we'll keep looking.
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Funnily enough there's one on E-Bay now !
If that's the Elkhart one - yes, I've seen it, but it's a 1970 model (seller thinks). Might be great, although seller admits it's a bit worn - hopefully we can find something a bit newer, albeit more expensive no doubt.
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Couldn't resist looking though !
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Couldn't resist looking though !
...and we'll keep looking; the one we were next in line for if the sale fell through has just been sold :-(
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I meant to say, Focus, if your lad is studying for Grade 6 at the age of 12, he must be pretty talented. If it's any comfort, I can't remember when I last had a car as young as eight years old... :-)
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