I forgot to mention two feature enhancements we made to the sunflowers a while ago. Firstly, we got some copper tape which allegedly gives slugs and snails an electric shock (!) when they come into contact with it - and that’s taped around all the sunflower pots now. Since then there’s been a marked reduction in nocturnal eating, so it seems to work!

Also, due to the numerous falling-over incidents (many logged here) we gave the pots a little more weight with some old bricks which were lying around in the dustbin area. In case Uncle Terry ever reads this, the bricks are from Marston! Again, this non-technical solution has proved highly effective.

Oh, if you’re wondering about the little pot on the brick, it contains a tiny conifer I found growing in the corner of a fuschia pot when we repotted it the other day. Nancy hates conifers so I don’t know what to do with it but just binning it was not an option! I might take it to the office and put it on my desk. Don’t think there’s anything in my contract preventing me growing trees.