Group,

Although it is very early for the subject and one should not feed birds too
much during the early nesting season, I have found that the best
environmentally friendly way of overcoming blackfly and greenfly is to use
peanuts.

Obtain a plastic container which contained dried milk and cut a 2 inch
diameter hole in its base. Cut a piece of wire grid as used in
commercially available bird feeders, to fit snuggly in the base of the
plastic container.

It is adviseable to use a waterproof adhesive tape to fix a hanging cord to
the plastic container (holes will allow ingress of moisture and make the
peanuts mouldy) before filling with peanuts, fittng the lid and hanging near
your roses or whatever.

Because only one bird will be able to get at the nuts at any one time, the
ones queueing up will do the rounds of the roses and eat all the blackfly!

Regards

Geoff