Snail's Pace?

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is advocating declassifying slugs and snails as 'pests' (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/mar/04/planet-friendly-rhs-to-no-longer-class-slugs-and-snails-as-pests). Only 9 of the 44 recognised species of UK slugs, actually eat garden plants. Slugs and snails , however, are generally been the top-ranked species, in gardener's complaints. Anything, from toxic chemicals to infective nematode worms, appear to be acceptable in the 'war' against these slimy 'invaders'. The RHS's own research, however, now recognises that slugs and snails "play an important role in planet-friendly gardening and maintaining a healthy ecosystem". One might comment that the whole concept of 'planet-friendly gardening' is a bit suspect! Slugs and snails are important recyclers, clearing dead matter from gardens, as well as attracting 'approved' hedgehogs and birds who feed on them. The RHS also offers advice for gardeners on how to protect their plants from slugs and snails. Cloches (protective covers) can be used. Slugs can also be moved to compost heaps (rather than lobbed over the garden fence?) or be distracted from favoured plants by attracting them to other seedlings. Slug and snail predators, like frogs and birds, can also be encouraged to visit gardens, by digging ponds or using bird feeders. Perhaps, gardening is finally distancing itself from its obsession with monocultures of plants?