Even though the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) declared two years ago that mollusks shouldn’t be classified as pests, gardeners still consider them to be among the most annoying animal species.
In an effort to encourage people to “make friends with molluscs,” the RHS and the Wildlife Trusts are now endorsing slugs, stressing that they are frequently a gardener’s best friend.
“While a small number of slugs and snails can cause damage to certain plants, overall they bring many benefits to the garden and contribute to a balanced ecosystem,” stated Helen Bostock, senior wildlife specialist at RHS.
“We hope that by highlighting the crucial work that molluscs do in our gardens we can help give them a well-deserved reputation makeover.”
Of the approximately 150 species of slugs and snails found in the UK, the charity stated that only a “small fraction” of them cause difficulties for gardeners, with the majority feeding on dead animals, fungi, rotting plants, and manure.
