Just looked at my mini ponds which I created by using old storage containers, rocks I have collected on my rambles and picking up plants by rivers. Taking home a few beetles and other little insects in jars. I now have a little kingdom of Whirligig beetles, water boatmen and a wasp-spider. I might build a little rockery near for some frogs.


If Wyot wants to start a project with his children, getting them close to nature is great. I love to get an aviary but I don't trust the neighbour's cats or the fox.

Sounds great GM.

I do stuff with the kids in the garden - they have their own areas to grow veg and flowers, we create insect and bee "houses" etc. I am not in the country , though, and we too are on a major fox run. But I do try.

One morning I drew back the patio curtains and a fox was sat the other side of the glass staring back in at me. For a few wonderful moments just a pane of glass separated us as we locked eyes and considered one another.

Then he darted off...

Urban foxes are rife here in the centre. One morning recently I was walking towards the park when a large fox wandered towards me, turning to his new home (behind a long flower and plant arrangement outside a large hotel) - almost saying Good Morning to me as he (or she) did so.

I have no problems with foxes. They are welcome in my world.

When work takes me to central London I nearly always see foxes 🦊 on one route. They are "tame" in London compared to Surrey; wandering around totally indifferent to us. I absolutely love them. Our garden seems to be on a route to a den (if that is the correct word) they have in a local park. A couple of times we have found large eggs buried in the garden overnight - the work of a fox. They are so beautiful. I love having them around too.

Wyot wrote:
When work takes me to central London I nearly always see foxes 🦊 on one route. They are "tame" in London compared to Surrey; wandering around totally indifferent to us. I absolutely love them. Our garden seems to be on a route to a den (if that is the correct word) they have in a local park. A couple of times we have found large eggs buried in the garden overnight - the work of a fox. They are so beautiful. I love having them around too.


I love all nature but I am wary of foxes. As I live near farmland or farmland that are now housing estates they are becoming pests. However taking a piss in a corner of the garden is a good scent deterrent.

I got a big bollocking as a kid from my Dad for feeding badgers and letting them in house. Even though catching TB from a badger to a human is small, it's ringworm that can be an issue. We also had a lot of pets when we were kids.

'Den' is the correct word.

Greenhouses are cheap to get Wyot even if just a small one for potted plants. What veg are you growing?

Another tip I can get is to go into second-hand book shops or charity shops, buy cheap books and research what else you can do for the garden. Also look on Freecycle to see what you can salvage from other people. Someone might be getting rid of a mini pond you can dig in the ground with pumps.