What with the snails, slugs and the pigeons ...

... what hope does a little bean have?

I'm growing french beans this year, up a teepee. I've done it before, but in my very sunny front garden where the snails and slugs don't thrive and there is not a pesky pigeon in sight. I thought it would be educational for my son, and nice for us.

Anyway, it has not been a success. All the beans I planted got nipped before I could do anything, and off the 15 or so bean plants I've planted out in their place, the only ones that have survived have required the following protection strategy:

1. First plant your bean..
2. Then surround it with coffee grounds.
3. Then tuck it inside a section of a 2 litre plastic bottle which has copper foil around it AND jagged edges at the top.
4. Then enclose the lot within a teepee of sticks that has string wrapped around it like a mad spider web, in a (vain) attempt to stop the pigeons getting in.

It looks ridiculous. And it doesn't even work - today I found a snail happily stuck on the inside of one of the bottles, having munched away at the bean plant within all night.

I'm not giving up, but I'm hardly introducing my son to the joys of gardening. How are others getting on with the wonderful wildlife of Harringay? Any other suggestions????