I have previously used a very fine gauge mesh to protect the crop. But this year I let nature do the protecting by allowing plants/grasses to grow close to the fruit bushes – I have had a really good crop, perhaps because:
1. More bees encouraged to pollinate the fruit berries and more effectively (being attracted by the surrounding flowers)
2. The birds seem unwilling/unable to land on ground and get to the berries/bushes
3. The bushes were “disguised” in between other veg crops – less obvious to birds?
4. It is a bit more tricky to pick fruit..but not a big issue
5. Mulched well – and surrounding plants protected fruit bushes from strong winds / reduced water loss
6. We make water bottle mobile bird scarers (using a bottle cut to make 4 wind-driven propellers and a piece of dry cleaning wire coat hanger), which is then inserted into the top of a cane. They whirl around and also rotate on the cane in 360 degrees – and, depending on wind strength, also make a rattling noise!
Simon
