Detached Victorian renovation, London.
Discussion
Harry Flashman said:
Early in this thread I thought they were cute, especially the cubs. There was quite a debate on this. I am now with the people who warned me they would wreck my stuff with impunity. b
ds.
I'm a smug bds.d so will happily say 'told you so'! They're a complete menace and need controlling. Harry Flashman said:
Nothing poisonous - we have an inquisitive toddler!
If they are placed where the vermin enter the garden I woukd think they are out of reach for the kid? Assume you or Lady F would not let her to thst part of garden unsupervised?
Perhaps worth a try as it is cheap, removable and may help you retain some sanity...
Harry Flashman said:
The foxes are the bane of my life, garden wise. Actually destroying stuff. Nothing has worked as a deterrent. I am considering serious measures!!
Since the lock-down, the foxes in our area (East London) also gone wild-starving mode on. They are everywhere, even during daylight. They keep coming to our garden, despite the fact that we have an over-hyperactive Beagle that barks at every moving leaf and neighbours have 4 german shepherds!If it helps I have a family of 3 mangey looking foxes that roam my garden & leave their stinky poo on the grass & left over meals & i am yet to find a solution to get rid of them bar poisoning them with a shed load of rat poison but then part of me is like that's really cruel just leave them be & manage but it's becoming a pain as i too have a daughter who i'd like to use the garden but don't want her putting her hands in fox poo or dead things!
I put chicken wire up which seemed to help a little bit but they just find another sodding way in! Worryingly they aren't afraid of humans either, i will try and chase them off but they just look at you in a confused way and carry on sleeping or playing until i get further with a spade as back up
I put chicken wire up which seemed to help a little bit but they just find another sodding way in! Worryingly they aren't afraid of humans either, i will try and chase them off but they just look at you in a confused way and carry on sleeping or playing until i get further with a spade as back up
richatnort said:
If it helps I have a family of 3 mangey looking foxes that roam my garden & leave their stinky poo on the grass & left over meals & i am yet to find a solution to get rid of them bar poisoning them with a shed load of rat poison but then part of me is like that's really cruel just leave them be & manage but it's becoming a pain as i too have a daughter who i'd like to use the garden but don't want her putting her hands in fox poo or dead things!
I put chicken wire up which seemed to help a little bit but they just find another sodding way in! Worryingly they aren't afraid of humans either, i will try and chase them off but they just look at you in a confused way and carry on sleeping or playing until i get further with a spade as back up
I've taken to shooting at them with a BB pistol. It is clearly driving me slowly mad, as this is not acceptable behaviour.I put chicken wire up which seemed to help a little bit but they just find another sodding way in! Worryingly they aren't afraid of humans either, i will try and chase them off but they just look at you in a confused way and carry on sleeping or playing until i get further with a spade as back up
I realise that I promised some finished driveway shots. Photo heavy post, but have done a before, during and after to save scrolling through the thread.
Unlike the rear lawn, which is a disaster two years on as it was improperly laid, the driveway is astonishingly well done (different contractors).
As we bought it:
78 front by baconrashers, on Flickr
Overgrown vegetation killed off, fence put in, laurel bushes planted, and old crazy paving still intact:
DSC_0721.jpg by baconrashers, on Flickr
DSC_0720.jpg by baconrashers, on Flickr
Everything (except fence and bushes) being ripped out and starting at the bottom with proper drainage and groundwork (notice how fast weeds and vegetation grew back - this is a year on from the above photos)
20190803_094907 by baconrashers, on Flickr
John the driveway maestro surveying his domain:
20190803_145021 by baconrashers, on Flickr
A year on from him finishing work. Beds were created - the grass is supposedly a wildflower meadow, sown last autum (yet to see any wildflowers - hoping it is just too early!). Also cypress trees, lavender, some palms and a couple of california lilac lurking about the place.
20200403_133459 by baconrashers, on Flickr
20200403_133547 by baconrashers, on Flickr
20200403_133518 by baconrashers, on Flickr
20200403_133413 by baconrashers, on Flickr
20200403_133428 by baconrashers, on Flickr
Only regret? Should have put a solid block pathway between the bit the car is parked on and the bit leading from street to front door. Easily remadied as under that gravel is proper compressed MOT, so easy enough to do if I really feel the need. If we ever actually use the other bot of the driveway for the car, will probably block pave it anyway with just bits of gravel, or indeed more flowerbeds, to break it all up. But the contractor was excellent, the job really well done, and it seems to be lasting well so far.
Unlike the rear lawn, which is a disaster two years on as it was improperly laid, the driveway is astonishingly well done (different contractors).
As we bought it:
78 front by baconrashers, on FlickrOvergrown vegetation killed off, fence put in, laurel bushes planted, and old crazy paving still intact:
DSC_0721.jpg by baconrashers, on FlickrDSC_0720.jpg by baconrashers, on FlickrEverything (except fence and bushes) being ripped out and starting at the bottom with proper drainage and groundwork (notice how fast weeds and vegetation grew back - this is a year on from the above photos)
20190803_094907 by baconrashers, on FlickrJohn the driveway maestro surveying his domain:
20190803_145021 by baconrashers, on FlickrA year on from him finishing work. Beds were created - the grass is supposedly a wildflower meadow, sown last autum (yet to see any wildflowers - hoping it is just too early!). Also cypress trees, lavender, some palms and a couple of california lilac lurking about the place.
20200403_133459 by baconrashers, on Flickr20200403_133547 by baconrashers, on Flickr20200403_133518 by baconrashers, on Flickr20200403_133413 by baconrashers, on Flickr20200403_133428 by baconrashers, on FlickrOnly regret? Should have put a solid block pathway between the bit the car is parked on and the bit leading from street to front door. Easily remadied as under that gravel is proper compressed MOT, so easy enough to do if I really feel the need. If we ever actually use the other bot of the driveway for the car, will probably block pave it anyway with just bits of gravel, or indeed more flowerbeds, to break it all up. But the contractor was excellent, the job really well done, and it seems to be lasting well so far.
I have found over the years that there is a 100% effective, foolproof, cruelty-free, eco-friendly solution to the fox menace: it's called a cat. Foxes can't stand the smell of cat pee, and their sense of smell is very strong. The cat goes out and marks the territory, and you will never have a fox in your garden again for the lifetime of the cat. I've had up to four cats at a time, and never been without one since 1988.
RoverP6B said:
I have found over the years that there is a 100% effective, foolproof, cruelty-free, eco-friendly solution to the fox menace: it's called a cat. Foxes can't stand the smell of cat pee, and their sense of smell is very strong. The cat goes out and marks the territory, and you will never have a fox in your garden again for the lifetime of the cat. I've had up to four cats at a time, and never been without one since 1988.
My parents have a cat. And still get lots of foxes. Maybe she goes to the toilet further afield. RoverP6B said:
I have found over the years that there is a 100% effective, foolproof, cruelty-free, eco-friendly solution to the fox menace: it's called a cat. Foxes can't stand the smell of cat pee, and their sense of smell is very strong. The cat goes out and marks the territory, and you will never have a fox in your garden again for the lifetime of the cat. I've had up to four cats at a time, and never been without one since 1988.
I'm not convinced. Many years ago, when I had a Marlboro habit, I was having a last smoke out my bedroom window around midnight, I heard a 'scrap' going off in a courtyard across the road. A wheely bin went flying, and lots of screeching, then 10 seconds later a cat bolted at lightening speed with a fox up its chuff. I guess it depends on how big your cat is and how much attitude it has, but this one lost.As for peeing, it's an old wives tale. Lot's of the old school boys with hens over at our allotments swear by it, many chickens over there, and fox is enemy #1. Most of them have lost birds to fox strikes over the years, despite treating their allotments like urinals.
Small updates now, and I seem to be treating this thread like a diary.
Wood burning stoves went in. I painted them with high temperature paint before installation to avoid the usual black box. Test fired them to cure the paint on and they are great - it helps that I have a lot of free wood to get through.
One of them involved installing a 14m high twin wall flue, as the original chimney had been removed and blocked. Still worth it.
Little 4kw one in the kitchen. Hearth left alone - original green Victorian tiles and old brick behind them. I like the messy look in an informal room. I suspect that subwoofer will need to be moved for winter, when the stove will be used...
IMG_20200718_224933 by baconrashers, on Flickr
This fireplace will be surrounded by white tiles. I have discovered that by using black grout on crackle-glazed tiles, you get this excellent aged finish. The grout between the tiles will actually be olive green.
IMG_20200718_225227 by baconrashers, on Flickr
And this is the main stove, in the living room. I picked it for the side windows, as when lit it throws firelight onto the distressed brick at the sides of the fireplace for a really pleasing effect. There was some debate about the stripped and knackered brick in this room early in this renovation - but it works well when lit up with flickering flame, so I am happy I stuck with it. I painted this stove a darker green, and laid the bottle green tiles on the hearth; they are highly reflective so again reflect firelight back onto the brick.
IMG_20200718_225029 by baconrashers, on Flickr
Wood burning stoves went in. I painted them with high temperature paint before installation to avoid the usual black box. Test fired them to cure the paint on and they are great - it helps that I have a lot of free wood to get through.
One of them involved installing a 14m high twin wall flue, as the original chimney had been removed and blocked. Still worth it.
Little 4kw one in the kitchen. Hearth left alone - original green Victorian tiles and old brick behind them. I like the messy look in an informal room. I suspect that subwoofer will need to be moved for winter, when the stove will be used...
IMG_20200718_224933 by baconrashers, on FlickrThis fireplace will be surrounded by white tiles. I have discovered that by using black grout on crackle-glazed tiles, you get this excellent aged finish. The grout between the tiles will actually be olive green.
IMG_20200718_225227 by baconrashers, on FlickrAnd this is the main stove, in the living room. I picked it for the side windows, as when lit it throws firelight onto the distressed brick at the sides of the fireplace for a really pleasing effect. There was some debate about the stripped and knackered brick in this room early in this renovation - but it works well when lit up with flickering flame, so I am happy I stuck with it. I painted this stove a darker green, and laid the bottle green tiles on the hearth; they are highly reflective so again reflect firelight back onto the brick.
IMG_20200718_225029 by baconrashers, on FlickrEdited by Harry Flashman on Saturday 18th July 23:23
The new green tiles were inspired by the hearth in the green bedroom on your thread actually!
I avoided completely nicking your idea by going for a square format and slight irregularity/crackle intead of metro...just enough to claim it's an homage rather than a fake.
Bit like all those Chinese factories who can sell you a "Rolexx Submeriner" for £50.
I avoided completely nicking your idea by going for a square format and slight irregularity/crackle intead of metro...just enough to claim it's an homage rather than a fake.
Bit like all those Chinese factories who can sell you a "Rolexx Submeriner" for £50.
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