The vegetable garden has been badly damaged by deer. The young cabbage plants had escaped the pigeons and were looking promising.

The strawberry rows were looking a picture of health with new vibrant leaves, but now most of them have been grazed off.

Broad beans had been planted in modules to ensure an early crop. The modules had been placed outside under a cloche to harden them off before planting.
The winter clean up had included removing the rabbit fence, as myxomatosis has wiped out the population.

So, a vegetable garden is the obvious place for a deer to forage on a frosty winter morning. Four fat deer are now lying on a sunny bank, looking very content.
“Never trust an animal”. If the vegetables are not fenced and protected from all pests, the gardener cannot complain about the damage done to the vegetables.

deer pigeon rabbit vegetable garden