By the light of the moon

This Thursday is the ideal time to go on a moonlit mollusc hunt, thanks to a super blue moon

- Bob Flowerdew

APPARENTLY, on Thursday 31 August we’re going to have a super blue moon. The blue bit’s irrelevant, as it’s a medieval term for the second full moon appearing in any month. However, the super part is interesting, as it means our moon will be the closest it comes to us – 14% larger and 30% brighter. Plants are said to grow more in moonlight, though I wonder by how much, and it would be hard to measure.

Anyway, several nights either side of the full moon will also be nearly as bright, and given any warm days it’ll be fun to go out late at night. So now is also a fine time to seriously decimate our perpetual gardening foe with a moonlit mollusc hunt – or three.

Although a torch is always helpful, it’s much easier to find these slimy critters when you can see fairly well anyway. They can then be picked off to be disposed of in your preferred method. (I consider instant crushing underfoot on a slab path the kindest option).