We used to have a typical London garden, with a small rockery just outside the patio doors, where lived and lurked many snails (Cornu aspersum).

Thora Whitehead's poetic plea for enlightenment about slugs demands a response. So, here are some thoughts, verse-by-verse.

There’ll be many who will call me ‘mug’
For I find I cannot love the slug!
These humble molluscs – slimy creatures

My fascination with snails began when I was four years old.