It is part of our environmental policy to avoid the indiscriminate use of toxic pesticides. To do so, we believe, is wasteful and endangers wildlife. Instead, we operate a system of IPM, (integrated pest management), and a level of tolerance. We use biological pest control, (one beasty to eat another); in our composts to control vine weevil, and in our growing tunnels to control aphids and red spider mite. We tolerate some insect damage to the trees as long as it does not adversely affect the overall wellbeing of the plant, small numbers of aphids and caterpillars will be controlled by birds and other natural predators. If a large outbreak of a pest occurs, then we will use the appropriate chemical control.We continue to use fungicides when necessary to control mildew and scab disease, as these are non-threatening to the environment.So if you find a few holes in the leaves of the trees we supply, you will have to forgive us. As we think this is a small price to pay to help maintain a biodiverse environment, and to have birds nesting in our hedges and tunnels and bats flying around at dusk.