Hi Maureen,
Thank’s for your comment, I am sorry to hear you have been having this problem. I always find that removing them with a stiff brush can heavily disrupt their nests but might not rid you of them completely. One method that does often work is the introduction of earwigs, which can be encouraged into the garden and onto the tree by stuffing empty flower pots with hay near the foot of the tree. I hope this helps!

Hi Caz,
Thank’s for your comment. Although most palms are not hardy enough to survive the climate in Scotland, there are a few examples that have been grown and thrived. Cordyline australis (Cabbage palm) is known to grow well in the Western Scottish town of Plockton, because of the Gulf Stream bringing in warmer air, so I’d recommend giving this one a go! Trachycarpus fortunei (Chinese windmill palm) has also been grown in both West and East Scotland, but may need more care to keep it alive. I hope this helps!

Hi Jean,

If it looks more like insect damage then it could be caused by narcissus bulb flies. These attack bulbs such as daffodils, narcissus and snowdrops.
Symptoms include decaying and muddy bulbs and possibly the appearance of small maggots. There is no chemical control available for these pests, but they can be reduced by firming down the soil around the bulb.
You can find out more about them on the RHS website.
Alternatively, it could be a disease which looks similar to insect damage. You may want to try planting your snowdrop bulbs in a different location and seeing if this is a pest or disease related problem.
I hope this helps, please do not hesitate to contact if you have further problems.

Hi Jean,

Thank’s for your comment. It sounds like you may have a problem with squirrels. They are known to eat snowdrops and occasionally wreck other flowers.
Squirrel repellents are available from most garden centres and come as either a liquid, which can be sprayed around the effected area, or as a sound-emitting device which keeps them away with high pitched bleeps.
Decoys to scare squirrels away do exist also, but they don’t always work. I hope this advice helps!

Hi Anne,
Thanks for your comment. Here is the link the enter the competition. I hope this helps!