What is destroying my plants?

Hello everyone. Just joined - new to the forum and pretty new to gardening as well.
I guess my question will seem stupid to all the old hands out there, but I hope I can benefit from your combined experience!
I just got an allotment and last weekend I transplanted some cabbage and onion seedlings that I raised in my greenhouse into my plot. Overnight something had gone along the rows and pretty much destroyed them to ground level. My guess is its rabbits, in which case I will fence off (big job). But if its birds then I guess I will have to cover everything (bigger job). Or could it be something else? As I have sown some seed directly in the ground as well (which are just coming up), I'd hate to see all my work destroyed by whatever the destroyer is, so I'm trying to find the best method of protection.
Some advice please!

 

Most likely as you surmise either rabbits or pigeons. Ask other allotment people around you if they have had trouble from these pests.

 

quite early to put plants out, were they big enuff do you think?
anyway, what about asking other allotment holders for some advice here, you mite have to look at growing stuff under netting and or fleece

 

Does sound like rabbits. Netting may stop them although they are excellent diggers. You can be sure the culprit thoroughly enjoyed them.

 

If they have been reduced to ground level my money would be on the bunny!

Good quality 1" or smaller wire mesh needs to be about 3ft high above ground level and burried about a minimum of 1 foot deep and then taken back out from the line of the fence by a foot or more. So for a 3ft fence you will require 6ft wide mesh. You also need to pay particular attention to gates or other access

Plastic would be useless, not even a challenge for a determined rabbit.

 

wide mesh chicken wire is no use either - it has to be pretty dense stuff to stop a determined rabbit! We have 3 lines of defence - chicken wire, square mesh, and wood! We hope it'll take until daylight at least to get through that lot, so it won't be worth their while!! :D

 

Agree with you on rabits eating plastic. About 30 years ago, my daughter's rabit managed to chew the grey PVC insulation off the mains power cable to my workshop! Didn't realise until it rained and the electricity went off, went out with torch to find about 6 inches stripped completely bare about 4 foot off the ground. So I suppose with no feet on the ground it saved it from being Bar-b-qued!

 

long time no see, DAG! Rabbits are a pest - and by doing things like you've just described, they're a danger too! But you never know - to get back on thread - maybe it's pigeons, etc, and the answer is netting. Two Wests do a range of stuff, as do others - have a look here, Stilthirsty, for ideas http://www.twowests.co.uk/TwoWestsSite/category/FRUITCAG/

 

The original Hot Cross Bun

 

:D :D
Nice one Dave W, never thought of that!

 

Thanks for all the advice guys.
Have a great Easter. Looks like I'll be making a fence!

 

It'll keep you fit, Stillthirsty, and you could probably do with the odd glass after (or even during!) to make it more pleasant. Or even eat all your easter eggs to help give you plenty of energy for the task ahead!