Britons are being urged to “make friends” with slugs and snails as only a “small minority” can wreak havoc on gardeners.
Although the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) said two years ago that molluscs should not be considered pests, they are often cited as one of the most frustrating animal species for gardeners.
Now the Royal Horticultural Society and the Wildlife Trusts are backing slugs in a campaign to get people to “make friends with molluscs”, highlighting how they can often become a gardener’s best friend.
Helen Bostock, senior wildlife specialist at the Royal Horticultural Society, said: “While small numbers of slugs and snails can cause damage to some plants, overall they bring a lot of benefit to the garden and help Balance the ecosystem.
“We hope that by highlighting the important work molluscs do in our gardens we can help give them the reputation they deserve.”
The charity said only a “small number” of the UK’s around 150 species of slugs and snails caused problems for gardeners, with most feeding on decaying vegetation, fungi, faeces and even animal carcasses.
They also promote how declining species such as thrushes and hedgehogs eat molluscs, and offer five suggestions on how to create a better environment for these creatures.
They recommend garden owners should:
• Create habitats in the garden such as log piles, mulch and natural debris
• Choose plants that are less attractive or more resistant to molluscs
• Use non-toxic barriers such as copper tape and wool pellets for delicate plants
• Monitor plants regularly and remove slugs and snails by hand
• Encourage predators by creating habitat for frogs, toads, ground beetles and birds
Previously, Sky News reported in 2022 Rural hedgehog numbers plummet Over the past 20 years, and earlier reports that Thrushes are disappearing from British gardens Its speed suggests the species “needs help.”
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The charities say only a “small proportion” of slugs and snails cause problems for gardeners in the UK. Image: iStock
The Wildlife Trust’s Catherine Brown said the charity also wanted “everyone to avoid using pesticides as they can also indiscriminately harm other living things”.
“Instead of trying to control them, you can plant a range of plants that snails and slugs don’t eat, such as onions and hardy herbs,” she adds.
“These wonderful molluscs help enrich and aerate the soil, and they are also an important food source for other incredible animals such as salamanders and beetles.”
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