Having thought I was looking after my ?7 year old tortoise I found your Website - Thanks for all your help so far Vivienne!

Any suggestions as to whether this is Fred or Freda?  I think its a Horsefield He!  Having a problem uploading pics & losing all my blurb here.  So will try later.

Has anyone ever sunk a coldframe to use as an outdoor area?

Hello and

Have you read the instructions on how to upload photos on the left hand link when you are in the members gallery?  It isn't the easiest system but it does work if you get them small enough first.  sometimes it's better to upload one at a time.  If you can't manage it send them to me as an attachment at helen@tortoise-protection-group.org.uk and tell me what you want to call your album and what writing you want to show  underneath the picture for all to see.

I keep horsfields they have such amazing characters and if you post a good shot of the tail end we should easily be able to sex Fred/Freda for you. 

Helen

Hi and welcome, Many people use cold frames in an outdoor area, this provides good natural light and additional heat for those cooler summer days. I have also used a row of breeze blocks (as if a tortoise can see out s/he will want out so this blocks their visual line) then placed an upturned large fish tank upon it. Works just as well at a fraction of the cost. BUT do ensure that the tank cannot fall and block their enterance as that would prove fatal very quickly.

HTH

Elaine 

Hi Chris, so glad you made it here!!! 

As Helen says any problems loading the photos just send them as an email attachment to Helen or myself (I think you still have my email addey).

I have just 'acquired' another coldframe for my female horsfields, as Elaine mentioned I shall be laying it on a row of bricks, leaving a gap for them to go out into their fenced off garden. One word of warning, horsfields love to dig and tunnel, its advisable to lay chicken wire a couple of feet under Fred's outside area!!!

Any questions just fire away!!  Vivienne

Well I have spent about an hour trying to upload.  I'll have to ask my 13 yr old daughter tomorrow!!  Viv - I have emailed 3 pics to you.

I would like to see a piccie of your coldframe when completed??  You are suggesting I put the wire several feet down, wow, thats some dig!

i'll get there though....  I am also interested in your info on weeds too - I am not so familiar with quite a few so will go round the garden taking samples!  I have Witch hazel & penstemon growing near where I want to relocate him so need to check.  Don't they eat such a wide variety!

Thanks everyone

Hi Chris, I have uploaded the pics into the members gallery for you. 

Here are two for a quick peek!

Hi Chris, my colleagues agree its a FRED!!! lol

Vivienne

So glad I am right for a change!!   I need to also get my head round food & expand on what I have been giving him  I am ok on chickweed, dandelions, clover, rose leaves & petals.  Oh & nastutians he loved last year.  But my garden is full of forget-me-nots, buttercup, - are these ok?

Hi,

Forget-me-nots are fine, but buttercups aren't (it won't kill him if he nibbles one, but they are full of glycosides which are harmful if eating in any quantity). Keep an eye out for plantain (very good for torts). I also have lots of evening primroses that seed themselves in my garden (not primroses, but the tall plants with yellow flowers - oenothera). Lavatera is a great shrub for tortoises, as they love the flowers (and hibiscus and abutilon as well). Sedum spectabile (sometimes called ice plant -- the succulent with flat, usually red, flower heads in the autumn) is another favourite (although don't feed in large quantities as it can cause runny poo. Campanula is another good plant, and most gardens have a bit of this. Hope this is a start and that you have some of these in your garden.

Nina