Midnight posed for quite a few photos there!!!
I cannot alter the height of the swing, it is on steel posts which hold the swing to the metal bar at the top. I can't even lift the swing to put anything under the legs it is a ton weight.
I have tried every obnoxious to the badgers sense and essential oils and nasty smells and put them all the way along the front of the swing but it will not deter that badger.
I even bought a metal a fire guard to put on the front of the swing and fixed it on but the badger still found a way to pull the cushions off. I have spent a lot of money on this and I am not going to spend any more time and money on this... I give up
@Annb
I am sorry to hear about your pizza bases. I am a believer in always cooking your (my) way! I hope the next batch work out brilliantly.
Take care x
Well, that would be a shame.
So a few thoughts popped into my head of "how" to deter the badger, given what you say about how you can't affect some things.
A. The badger prefers a frontal assault.
So perhaps deny them that grip on the front of swing by placing a strip of wood/hardboard across the front ?
Issues I guessed might be problematic was
* Actually fitting, as I presumed (likely wrongly, given it is YOU..lol ) drilling/screwing might present difficulties physically.
* And given it's outdoors some weather protection might be needed .
So, with that in mind, my prototype requires
*One sheet, wide enough to fit the length of seat .
* One strip of hardboard to fit length of seat & extending forward of swing, like a shelf , width to be determined by you , designed to act as a drawbridge at night, to protect front edge of swing from Badger attack by denying said badger any purchase on front ledge.
*** Extra security would be to lay sheet onto cardboard (packing/Amazon boxes ?)
With front edge extending onto hardboard, offering a 'hinged' area covering where bedsheet meets hardboard
(I wondered if badgers nails would catch the cloth material when raised, the cardboard hinge 'might' make that less likely and make it more durable ? )
Tools & material required.
* One sheet, securely tied, stapled, screwed onto rear of swing seated areas .
* Same sheet secured to front of swing seated area in similar fashion...(rope ties ? )
* One sheet of hardboard, glued, stapled or secured by battens and screws to the above sheet in line with front of swing seat.
** For some weather protection wood varnish ( or very heath Robinson cling film) hardboard.
Purpose here is to test proof of concept as cheaply as possible
Before spending any excess cash.
* Some hooks and rope to use to secure the seats "drawbridge" at each end of hardboard ...
(Top end when raised )
A. In the raised position each night.
B. In lowered position vertically below swing OR secured underneath swing.
Cost or materials would be limited to ingenuity.
One unused bedsheet
Hooks (cup hooks would be the type I'd look for, easy to screw in and possible to squeeze hoop hook tighter so rope/string is held in place )
Some battens (thin wood or thick cardboard. It only needs to keep bedsheet secured to hardboard .
And some method of securing hardboard to bedsheet.
Glue on its own may suffice
Or an overlap at edges where a flap of bedsheet could be folded over & stapled, screwed* to hardboard.
* Rope or string as drawbridge chains & for securing during daytime
*Care taken to ensure no sharp points protruding to cut or scratch unwary animals or your good self.
All a little work, but with it all fitted, the drawbridge sits on front edge of bedsheet, extending slight over front edge of swing seat.
This allows it to be dropped below or completely under seat and secured out of the way for daytime use
And allows it to be raised off the horizontal plane at night and secured so no sneaky paws can get a grip or jump onto swing.
With drawbridge raised, cats can still access swing by sides, badger can't get at front of seat to grip or peak over, drawbridge front 'should' shield seat and hardboard 'should' offer zero gripping points.
All sounds mad, but makes good sense in my head...
Mad but it's how I roll.
Be interested in how it turns out if you do try or if anyone sees a weakness I've overlooked ...that badger is a determined so & so.
Off back to sorting out the propulsion system for my rocket to the Moon .. (wink )
Doc Emmett .