3 1/2 months on!

[Catwoman63]

Originally Posted by alley cat

Yes Bev, the kennel has been insulated and I am planning on installing a tube thingy (can't remember the name!!) so that I can fill it with earth and they can hibernate in there.
I can't believe how it has grown in so quickly, from a bare pen to this in three and a half months! I think a bird planted that corn
The other half of it has only been used on a few days so far, I need to get a coldframe and kennel type thing really before it can be a more permanent area, so far the Horsfields have all taken it in turns to explore it for a day at a time

Looks brilliant, it needed the sun but also the rain, when it was that 30C hot the other week and no rain, the planting in the torts gardens was dieing off, so we needed the rain, but they eat everything to the ground the sods, i plant 2 new campanulas a while ago and within 3 days had eaten it so it looks like sticks now ha ha.

When you think of the name for the "tube thingy" let me know, and how they will hibernate in there.....i have purchased a tall larder fridge for mine, but am interested in finding out other methods of hibernation x

[Lane]

Looks beautiful. I'm thinking of moving down south, how are the temps for keeping torts outside in general? I would love to have something like this set up

[Wanda]

I am in the south east and mine live out all year round. I have an insulated shed with ceramic heater on thermostat and lights etc as well that come on to warm the, up. When it starts getting colder and they slow down and start wanting to dog in, I fling topsoil into the shed, block their cat flap and reduce light time accordingly.

As soon as they wake, I unblock their cat flap and they choose if it is warm enough for them to venture outside.

[becciwales]

Wow, that's fab!!

[Catwoman63]

I live down south as well, weather is warmer here x

[alley cat]

Thank you everyone for the nice comments, the weather here seems pretty good for torts, mine have not had their lamps on all summer actually those new pens are real suntraps, the grapevine I planted has grapes coming on it already.
Bev...it is a tubular heater with built in thermostat that I was trying to remember the name of

[lynnedit]

Looks fantastic! Even the stump looks good, lol.

[Stellanne]

Lovely enclosure. What plants do you have in there. I am looking at redeveloping mine this winter... Planting tort friendly plants that they won't eat x x x hugs x

[alley cat]

Originally Posted by Stellanne

Lovely enclosure. What plants do you have in there. I am looking at redeveloping mine this winter... Planting tort friendly plants that they won't eat x x x hugs x

There is a Grapevine, Lavatera, Rosemary, Lavender, Sedum in the pot which they can't reach but you can pick bits and add to thier food, various edible weeds inc Dead nettle, Clover, Grass and Dandies, can't remember what else!

[Alan1]

Nice. I've not got many of the original plants in mine now. I started off with edible garden plants but weeds appeared naturally (and I planted some) and they kind of choked out the garden stuff