On 2013-05-16 17:24:28 +0000, Tom said:

On Wednesday, May 15, 2013 6:18:25 PM UTC+1, Dave Cornwell wrote:
Following last year's wet summer Scientists are saying that they are at

their lowest numbers since humans inhabited the planet. A bit of a

sweeping statement and difficult to prove I would think but I have been

concerned. Having said that I have seen more at this stage than I

actually did last year. snip
================================================== ==========================

Today I noticed the first few greenfly of the season, which is good to
see (even though I'm a gardener).

I was a bit worried that the ladybirds I've been seeing over the past
week or two were all going to starve, as they also had a hard time of
it in the early part of last year.

The winter seems to have culled the slugs and snails, which in my
garden are markedly down on normal levels and hugely reduced from the
enormous numbers of 2012.

Tom
Blackmore, SW Essex

Yes, I've noticed that with slugs and snails, there are very few
munching away at my garden plants.

However, I will not get so carried away that I might dare to believe I
could now grow a delphinium.

On 16/05/13 22:04, yttiw wrote:
On 2013-05-16 17:24:28 +0000, Tom said:

On Wednesday, May 15, 2013 6:18:25 PM UTC+1, Dave Cornwell wrote:
Following last year's wet summer Scientists are saying that they are at

their lowest numbers since humans inhabited the planet. A bit of a

sweeping statement and difficult to prove I would think but I have been

concerned. Having said that I have seen more at this stage than I

actually did last year. snip
================================================== ==========================


Today I noticed the first few greenfly of the season, which is good to
see (even though I'm a gardener).

I was a bit worried that the ladybirds I've been seeing over the past
week or two were all going to starve, as they also had a hard time of
it in the early part of last year.

The winter seems to have culled the slugs and snails, which in my
garden are markedly down on normal levels and hugely reduced from the
enormous numbers of 2012.

Tom
Blackmore, SW Essex

Yes, I've noticed that with slugs and snails, there are very few
munching away at my garden plants.

However, I will not get so carried away that I might dare to believe I
could now grow a delphinium.


I've seen quite a few on my allotment during the night time patrols. Not
huge numbers though, I was expecting an armada after the recent wet
weather but nowhere near as many as I expected.

On 2013-05-16 23:12:51 +0000, Adam Lea said:

On 16/05/13 22:04, yttiw wrote:
On 2013-05-16 17:24:28 +0000, Tom said:

On Wednesday, May 15, 2013 6:18:25 PM UTC+1, Dave Cornwell wrote:
Following last year's wet summer Scientists are saying that they are at

their lowest numbers since humans inhabited the planet. A bit of a

sweeping statement and difficult to prove I would think but I have been

concerned. Having said that I have seen more at this stage than I

actually did last year. snip
================================================== ==========================


Today I noticed the first few greenfly of the season, which is good to
see (even though I'm a gardener).

I was a bit worried that the ladybirds I've been seeing over the past
week or two were all going to starve, as they also had a hard time of
it in the early part of last year.

The winter seems to have culled the slugs and snails, which in my
garden are markedly down on normal levels and hugely reduced from the
enormous numbers of 2012.

Tom
Blackmore, SW Essex

Yes, I've noticed that with slugs and snails, there are very few
munching away at my garden plants.

However, I will not get so carried away that I might dare to believe I
could now grow a delphinium.


I've seen quite a few on my allotment during the night time patrols.
Not huge numbers though, I was expecting an armada after the recent wet
weather but nowhere near as many as I expected.

Saw my first Speckled Wood of the year today; about a month later than
normal but a good sign nevertheless.