Materials & Tools

Empty Volvic water bottle,
Scissors,

Craft knife,

Wire or stone,
White spirit

Step 1

Cut the label from the bottle. If desired, you can remove any residual glue with a drop of white spirit

Step 2

Carefully remove the cap-ring using the scissors - this will make it easier to clean the trap later.

Step 3

Using the knife, make a slot in the second groove of the bottle.
 

Step 4

Continue the cut all the way around the second groove of the bottle using the scissors.

Step 5

Trim the remainder of the groove moulding from the top piece, leaving a smooth edge all around.

Step 6

Now trim most of the groove moulding from the bottom section of the bottle. A small amount left in the corners is actually preferable.

Step 7

You should now have two pieces of the bottle with clean-cut edges all around.

Step 8

Invert the top piece and push it into the base. If you cut away just enough material from the base section, the top should click in as far as the first groove.

Step 9

If the top piece is distorted, remove a little more material from the base and try again. It should look something like this.
 

Step 10

Add some slug pellets, and you're ready to go. The bottle keeps birds and animals away from the pellets, but allows in all but the very largest snails.

Step 11a

On a hard surface, use a rock to hold the trap in place.

Step 11b

On soil or compost, a small hoop of garden wire secures the trap.

Example 1

A trap charged with pellets, ready to be deployed.

Example 2

A trap on a pathway beside a planter, held in situ by a stone.

Example 3

A trap in action in my brassica bed, along with its first victim.

Alternatively, the same design can be used as a beer trap. These will be most effective if you have some way of preventing them from filling with rain.
 

Step 1

Pour a couple of centimetres of beer or lager into the trap.

Step 2

Bury the trap so the top is level with the soil.