You know those plastic things

[Fnaar]

that they put around the trunk of saplings and bushlings to protect them while they grow bigger? What happens to them? Are they biodegradable? Do they blow around the countryside for evermore?.You don't see loads of them blowing about. Does someone take them away? Do badgers eat them? Please put my mind at rest.

 

[asterix]

Dunno, I use chicken wire - almost invisible. It rusts if I leave it long enough.

 

[Archie_tect]

The squirrels use them to store their nuts.

 

[Melonfish]

Tree protectors? most are photodegradable, so you stack em in sunlight and they fall apart over time.
in general you plant young tree's with protectors in area's where rabbits are known. they LOVE young tree's, haven't seen a protector yet that stops deer though and they don't half destroy tree's especially muntjack.
as for removal its a 9 year cycle, once the tree is about 9 years old (dependant on tree) you can remove them and stack them the tree is old enough to not be bothered by the odd nibble and the rabbits go off em by then.

most are degradable (to sunlight) some aren't and are handed about various communities like volunteer groups and the woodland trust etc to re-use through various contacts. or at least thats my experience with em
hope that helps a bit
pete

 

[Fnaar]

excellent melonfish, thanks. Was just looking at hundreds and hundreds of them alongside an A road this morning, wondering about why the countrtyside wasn't littered with the things.