Richard Stack

Talkback: Glow-worms

I saw a glow worm last weekend just a mile or so away - this is in rural kent. Last year, in a spot called Perry Woods, near Chilham there were dozens of them about. I'd recommend that spot to any would-be glow worm hunters.

snails

I've been collecting the snails nightly and bunging them inside the compost bin, Its 3/4 full and I don't think they can get out of the bottom, the lid has a lip and although slugs can squeeze through I don't think the snails can. I think they might cook inside of it though. However, each night there are more to collect  - I can still see the other snails in the compost bin whenever I chuck more in.

They've killed several delphiniums and are steadily decimating some chilli plants, several lupins. hostas and a clematis (which they've stopped from ever really getting off the ground. I utterly hate them and am afraid of the depths to which I may yet sink. Perhaps I'll try those wool pellets.

Help needed identifying pest on tree

Dear all,

I'm a novice gardnener. Just got my first garden about a year ago. I've managed to rescue it from being a rubbish tip but am now having trouble with various pests - mostly slugs and snails devouring the lupins and delphiniums.

However, today I noticed something on the autumn-winter flowering cherry tree I planted ealier in the year (it was a bare-root plant). Some of the leaves seems to have been eaten and I can see red things at the base of the leaves that look a bit like tiny eggs to me. Anyone got any idea what this is and what I can do. Any advice is much appreciated.

Help needed identifying pest on tree