I write to respond to Greg Phillimore's letter (June 21), who commented on an article featured in the Wiltshire Times on May 25, concerning the work of the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust in encouraging non-chemical forms of slug control.

Mr Phillimore is wrong in stating that slug pellets do not harm non-target species. Both the 'UK pesticide guide' published by the British Crop Protection Council and 'UK pesticides for farmers and growers' published by the Royal Society of Chemistry, state that metaldehyde is "dangerous to game, wildbirds and animals".

The Government's Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme reports annually on wildlife and pet deaths where there is strong evidence that pesticide poisoning may be involved.

Deaths by metaldehyde poisoning have been confirmed in wildlife such as badgers, foxes, hedgehogs and birds, as well as many cats and particularly dogs.

Whilst some of these cases were as a result of deliberate or accidental poisoning, there are also many cases where deaths have occurred when the slug pellets, containing metaldehyde, have been used in accordance with instructions notably, a case involving 50 pheasants (ref. Pesticide Poisoning of Animals Investigations of Suspected Incidents in the UK published by MAFF 1991).

There are also numerous anecdotal reports of poisoning, although these cannot be scientifically verified, they do provide a warning.

Slug pellet manufacturers aim to make slug pellets less attractive to pets by incorporating Bitrex (denatonium benzoate) in the pellets. However, a study undertaken by the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Oxford, showed that neither bank voles nor shrews were deterred from eating slug pellets even though they contained Bitrex.

Clearly, then, Bitrex does not act as a deterrent to all non-target species.

I would be pleased to hear from Mr Phillimore directly about the extensive research he mentions in his letter.

Our review of the available literature shows that there is no conclusive proof that slug pellets are harmless to non-target species and that it remains advisable to avoid the use of slug pellets.

The Wiltshire Wildlife Trust is keen to encourage gardeners to adopt a whole range of measures in the garden that will have a positive effect on wildlife and our environment.

Any reader who would like to receive a copy of our non-chemical slug control leaflet can contact us on (01380) 725670.

Maggie McDonald,

Green Gardening Officer,

Wiltshire Wildlife Trust,

Elm Tree Court,

Long Street,

Devizes,

SN10 1NJ.