On 02/11/2020 01:01, michael adams wrote:
"TimW" wrote in message ...
I am involved in a project to put some small wooden structures like nesting boxes out in
some woodland. The Desire is that they should be 100% (or at least 99%) biodegradable,
so they last as long as poss but ultimately rot away to nothing. Fixing them in trees
with synthetic ropes or straps is therefore obviously a complete no-no. So traditional
rope is required.

There's a bewildering array of different materials - coir, hemp, flax etc and some
treatments as well like tarred rope. Does anyone know what is a good choice here for
just lasting a few years out in the weather? Is it better to have thicker rope for
lasting, or just strong enough to do the job?

TW

Drill an appropriate sized angled hole in the trunk, insert a length of wooden
dowel and suspend the nest box from that,

Repeat as necessary

A shallow hole won't harm the tree in any way.

Neither will an iron nail (and it will eventually rust away).

Do not use a copper one though.

My nest boxes are hung on nails.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown