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I was just reading that elder strung up can work as a fly deterant. Will have to try it out in the summer, or pehaps plant some elder near to my compost bin in a tub.

I think if you put some pots of mint around that,s supposed to work too Andy.

what sort of flies are they because I thought some sorts of flies were good
for the compost. Why not put the compost somewhere out of the way and not worry about the flies

Yes, Our Turkish neighbours use tubs of herbs - mint and basil on their patios to deter flies - it seems to work well. Sue

Definately worth a try! Living by the river we get descended on by thousands of flies in the summer and its got to be nicer than hanging horrid fly papers all over the place.Any suggestions for the dreaded midge?

I've also heard that Tansy works too.

We bought a citronella flavoured bug repellent plant which grew quite large and you could see the flies and mozzies flying in between the foliage. So much for that idea!

Nev

Goodlife1970 wrote:Any suggestions for the dreaded midge?

Moving to a different country!

Seriously, I thought it was just us here in Scotland who had to fight them off? They are probably Welsh midges around your place... The only repellant I've found so far that really works is this Avon "Skin-so-soft" oil, that they don't sell as an insect repellant, but that the entire USA army is rumoured to use. It really works.

That Avon stuff always comes up in discussions about insect bites! Can you get it online/mail order or do you have to know an Avon lady?

You can buy avon online mmm, just put avon cosmetics into the search facility and it will bring them up.
The fragrance that seems to do the trick was woodland I think. but they have changed the names now. I think it may be the soft and fresh, green packaging, but couldn,t swear to it.
Hopefully, they haven,t changed the formula along with the name

I shouldn't think so - they must have made a fortune with the stuff! I only used somebody else's last year - definitely have to get some for myself this time round.

hmmmm... what is in it??

I use a fab neal's yard insect repellent which seems to work very well indeed.

Don't know what's in it - but the midges don't like it. I don't like the smell, either... But that's the smaller problem when you are out in a thick cloud of midges! It's like a very light oil on the skin, and leaves it "oh-so-soft"...

Sounds great for me but not so sure about the OH,not really in touch with his feminine side...yet....

Just tell him that all those hard army-types swear by it... (They don't want to be bitten, either. And as I said, the smell is easier to put up with than being half-eaten by blood suckers!)

Tip: Fill it into a different bottle, and label it with something more masculine... Vampire Death ?

Funny that is,he has no problems with me covering him with sun tan lotion to stop him from doing a lobster but the faintest whiff of something floral........