GB2510893A - Access means for a horticultural enclosure - Google Patents

Abstract

A horticultural enclosure 14 including mesh 10 for excluding animals and a slide fastener (or zip) 20, the slide fastener comprising first and second fastener portions 21, 22 and a slide 25, at least one of the first and second slide fastener portions having a respective attachment portion, the or each attachment portion including attachment means 31 adapted for attaching the respective attachment portion to a respective edge region 11 of the mesh to form an aperture or door 12 which is openable and closable by operation of the slide. The attachment portion may include a pair of flaps 27, 27, the flaps having respective facing surfaces 30, the attachment means being arranged to attach the facing surfaces of the flaps together through the mesh when the mesh is interposed between the surfaces. The attachment means may be a hook and loop type fastening

Description

Access means 11w a horticultural enclosure This invention relates to horticultural enclosures comprising a mesh for excluding pests from growing plants.

Horticultural enclosures generally comprise a framework (e.g. hoops forming a tunnel, or a rectilinear frame forming a fruit cage) over which the mesh covering is stretched. It is difficult to keep moving parts clean in a horticultural environment and so access maybe provided to the enclosure via a door having simple hinges attached to the framework so that it functions reliably in dirty conditions. llowcvcr, since the framework is often rclativcly flexible it can be difficult to avoid gaps around the door through which birds and insects such as butterflies larger than the mesh size may pass. Moreover, since the enclosure must often be erected around the plants (rather than positioning the plants within the enclosure), the position of the door may be inconvenient insofar as it does not correspond to the pre-existing layout of pathways or plants. The door together with its support frame, catch and hinge also adds significant cost to the enclosure.

A general object of the present invention is to provide a more convenient and satisfactory means of access to a horticultural enclosure.

According to the present invention there are provided a horticultural enclosure, a slide fastener and a method of assembly as defined in the claims.

In a preferred embodiment, a horticultural enclosure is supplied and erected without any aperture in its mesh covering. An aperture is then cut in the mesh at any convenient position and a slide fastener attached to the edge regions of the mesh so that the aperture is openable and closeable by operation of the slide.

Optionally, the slide fastener is detachable from the mesh so that it can be more easily cleaned. The slide fastener is simple to make, relatively low in cost, easy to install in ally selected position, and convenient in use and provides a closure that can exclude even small insects if used with a sufficiently small size of mesh. The slide fastener may be supplied together with a mesh enclosure in kit form or alternatively may be used to provide an openable and closeable aperture in an existing mesh enclosure.

Further features and advantages will be apparent from the following illustrative embodiments of the invention which arc described, purely by way of example and without limitation to the scope of the claims, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. I shows a slide fastener attached to the mesh of a horticultural enclosure; Figs. 2A, 2B and 2C are cross-sections through the slide fastener at line X -X of Fig. 1, respectively with each pair of flaps open, open with the edge region of the mesh interposed between them, and closed to engage the mesh; Fig. 3 shows the upper end of the slide fastener; Fig. 4 shows the lower end of the slide fastener with one set of flaps removed; Fig. 5 shows some plants growing in a garden; Figs. 6A -6D show consecutive steps in arranging a horticultural enclosure to enclose the plants in accordance with a first embodiment; Figs. 7A 7C show consecutive steps in accordance with a second embodiment; and Figs. 8A -8C show consecutive steps in accordance with a third embodiment.

Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding features in each of the figures.

Referring to Figs. 1 -4, a slide fastener 20 includes first 21 and second 22 slide fastener portions, which may comprise teeth 23 moulded onto a strip 24 as shown or alternatively a coil or any other configuration as known in the art, and a slide 25 which engages the teeth of the two slide fastener portions. the slide being reversibly slidable along the length axis I. -I. of the slide fastener to disengage and relcasably re-engage together the first and second slide fastener portions 21, 22 in the conventional manner.

Each of the first and second slide fastener portions has a respective attachment portion 26 comprising a pair of flaps 27, 27, each of which is permanently fixed to the respective slide fastener portion by stitching it to the strip in a fixing region 28 defined by stitch lines 29 parallel with the length axis L -L so that the pair of flaps 27, 27 is openable and closeable to receive the respective edge region 11 of the mesh 10 between the facing surfaces 30 of the flaps as shown in Figs. 2B and 2C.

The flaps arc provided with integral attachment means 31 adapted for attaching the respective attachment portion 26 to a respective edge region 11 of the mesh to form an aperture 12 in the mesh which is openable and closeable by operation of the slide. In the illustrated embodiment, the attachment means 3 1 comprises a pair of releasably mechanically interengageable, i.e. releasable and re-attachable sheet materials, conveniently complementary hook 32 and loop 33 materials, which are distributed over a respective attachment region 34 of each of the facing surfaces of the Ilaps, so that by pressing the flaps together with the mesh 10 interposed between the facing surfaces 30 (Fig. 213) the hook material 32 on the first flap 27 releasably engages the ioop material 33 on the second flap 27 to attach the facing surfaces of the flaps together through the mesh (Fig. 2C, Fig. 1).

A hook-and-loop or other sheet material is found in tests to be more satisfactory than buttons, hooks or other individual fixings because it transmits forces more uniformly to the mesh of the enclosure 14 when the slide fastener is opened or closed so that the slide 25 can operate smoothly without puckering, damaging or pulling away from thc mesh.

Each oI'the flaps extends along (i.e. parallel with) the length axis L -L for at least most, prefcrably at least 80%, more preferably not less than the length of the slide fastener portions 21, 22 as shos; and preferably, each attachment region 34 has a width Dl in a width direction W -W transverse to the length axis greater than, preferably more than twice the mesh size D2 of the mesh 10 in the width direction. This ensures that at least one strand or filament 13, preferably at least two filaments 13 of the mesh extending generally parallel with the length axis is or are captured between the facing surfaces 30 of the sheet materials 32, 33 along at lcast most of the length of the slide fastener, providing a more secure fixing which transmits loads optimally to the mesh.

Since both flaps 27, 27' of each attachment portion 26 are permanently fixed to the respective slide fastener portion 21 or 22, and the hook-and-loop material engages the flaps together as soon as they touch, it is easy to position and engage the components during assembly, but may be difficult to insert the mesh filly between the open pair of flaps 27, 27! all the way along their length before engaging them together. Tn order to avoid this difficulty, at least one and, optionally as shown, both of the attachment regions 34 arc separated from the fixing region 28 by an intermediate region 35 in which the attachment means 31 is not present, the intermediate region 35 prcferably having a width D3 of at least about 10mm in the width direction W -W transverse to the length axis L -L. In tests it has been found that this makes it much easier to separate the flaps 27, 27' down to their stitch line and keep them apart when the edge region 11 of the mesh is inserted.

In the illustrated embodiment, the two slide fastener portions 21, 22 and attachment portions 26 are separable by operation of the slide 25 along their whole length except for their extremities where they are permanently united at the upper 36 and lower 37 ends of the slide fastener, and at each of its ends a pair of short tabs 38 with complementary hook 32 and ioop 33 matcria]s, similar to the flaps 27, 27', extend to engage the mesh 10 at the upper and lower ends of the aperture 12 so as to provide a firm attachment which helps to resist the pull forces applied to the slide in use.

Referring to Figs. 5 -6D, in use, a mesh enclosure 14 comprising a mesh 10 stretched over a framework 15 is erected to enclose the growing plants 1 so as to exclude insects, birds or other animals (Fig. 6A).

The mesh 10 can he any open material, i.e. a material with spaces between its filaments 13, and has a mesh size D2, i.e. a dimension between its adjacent filaments in a direction transverse to the length olsaid filaments, appropriate to the animals to bc excluded. A small mesh sizc is used For excluding insect pests from flowers or vegetables, while a larger size may be used fhr excluding birds from fruiting trees and bushes.

The mesh 10 is supplied intact (i.e. without the aperture 12 for receiving the slide fastener 20), and the slide fastener 20 is supplied unattached to the mesh. An aperture 12 comprising a vertical slit is then cut in the mesh (e.g. using a pair of scissors) at any convenient location, which in the illustrated embodiment is selected to correspond to the position of the path 2, so that the aperture 12 defines two adjoining edge regions 11 of the mesh (Fig. 6B). Each attachment portion 26 is then attached by the respective attachment means 31 to one of the edge regions 11 of the mesh so that the slide fastener forms an aperture 12 in the enclosure which is openable (Fig. 6C) and closeable (Fig. 6D) by operation of the slide 25.

Advantageously, the attachment means 3 1 is releasable and re-attachable (in the illustrated embodiment by pulling apart and re-closing the hook and loop material) so that each attachment portion 26 can be detached from and re-attached to the respective edge region 11 of the mesh so that if the mesh is damaged and requires replacement, or if it is desired to move the aperture to another position, the whole slide fastener 20 can be removed, cleaned if necessary and then re-installed.

Rather than a straight slit as shown, the aperture 12 could be U-shaped, L-shaped, oval, rectangular, or any other desired shape, optionally forming a panel 16 that can be folded back to give easy access to a wheelbarrow or the like. The slide fastener 20 could be straight or curved, and one, two, three, four or more slide fasteners 20 could be used to attach the margin of the panel 16 to the mesh of the enclosure.

Referring to Figs. 7A 7C, a U-shaped aperture 12 is cut in the mesh 10 (Fig. 7A), and a slide fastener 20, or alternatively two or more slide fasteners 20, is or arc engaged between the respective cdgcs oithe hanging panel 16 and the remaining mesh 10 of the enclosure. The or each slide 25 is operated to close the aperture 12 (Fig. 7B) or to open the aperture so that the hanging panel 16 can be rolled or folded up out of the way (Fig. 7C).

Rather than forming an aperture surrounded by the mesh of the enclosure as shown in Figs. 6 -7, the edge region 11 of the mesh forming the aperture could alternatively intersect the outer edge 17 of the mesh, e.g. at the ground, to provide easier access i'or a wheelbarrow or the like.

In alternative embodiments. the two slide fastener portions 2 I, 22 need not be permanently united at their extremities, but could be completely detachable from one another, without tabs 38 at their upper and lower ends.

Referring to Figs. 8A -SC, a panel 16 is cut from the mesh (Fig. 8A), and fitted with first and second slide fasteners 20, each slide fastener having two attachment portions 26 which are engaged with the respective adjoining edge regions 11 of the panel 16 and the remaining mesh 10 of the enclosure (Fig. 8B). One slide fastener 20 is curved to define one vertical edge and one upper side of the panel, so that by opening it the panel 16 can be folded back along a hinge line defined by the other slide fastener 20. The slide fastener portions 21, 22 ol' each slide fastener can be completely detached from one another, so that by opening both slide fasteners the panel 16 can be completely removed from the aperture so that a wheelbarrow can be wheeled in and out of the enclosure (Fig. 8C).

In alternative embodiments, only one of the slide fastener portions 21 or 22 may have an attachment portion 26 for attachment to the mesh, in which case the other one of the slide fastener portions may be permanently fixed to a separate panel of mesh, clear plastics or other material, so that the slide fastener and the new panel are supplied as an assembly. In use, a panel is cut from the mesh of the enclosure to form an aperture as shown in Fig. 8A, using the new panel as a template, and then discarded. The new panel 16 is then inserted as shown in Fig. SB to open and close the aperture by operation of the slide 25, with the attachment portion 26 of the slide fastener being fixed (permanently, e.g. by means of adhesive, or more preferably releasably, e.g. by means of hook and loop material) to the respective edge region 11 of the aperture. Optionally, a hinge side of the panel may be attached without using a slide fastener, while the slide fastener is arranged at an opposite side of the panel to form the openable and closeable aperture 12, with the panel being folded back out of thc way along its hinge side when open.

Rather than hook-and-loop material, e.g. Velcro (RTM), the attachment means could be a pair of any other (identical or complementary) releasably mechanically interengageable sheet materials, for example, Dual I.ock (I'M) reclosable fastener material available from 3M (RTM) of St. Paul, Minnesota, US.

In alternative embodiments the attachment means 3 1 could be permanently attachable to the mesh 10, comprising for example a sheet of adhesive covering the attachment rcgions 34 of both facing surfaces 30 of a pair of flaps 27, 27' with each facing surface being protected by a release paper. The facing surfaces are then brought together on either side of the edge region of the mesh by peeling away the release paper and then pressing them together so as to permanently fix the slide fastener to the mesh.

Different attachment means could be combined. For example, in the embodiments of Figs. 8A -8C, one slide fastener portion 22 could be permanently attachable to the mesh panel 16 cut from the enclosure by an attachment means comprising a watcrproof adhesive, while the other slide fastener portion 21 is attachable to the remaining mesh of the enclosure by an attachment means comprising a releasable hook and loop material. The hook and loop material could then be disengaged to release the complete slide fastener 20 together with the panel 16 from the enclosure 14, the whole assembly being immersed in a bucket of water to clean it before re-installing it.

Preferably, at least one attachment portion 26 or each attachment portion 26 comprises a respective pair of flaps 27, 27' so that once installed, the edge region of the mesh is interposed betwecn their facing surfaces. It is preferred to fix both flaps permanently to the respective slide fastener portion in a fixing region 28 parallel with its length axis L L as shown, because this makes installation easier and distributes forces applied to the slide evenly between the flaps and hence to the mesh of the enclosure so as to keep the motion of the slide 25 as smooth as possible.

However, instead of fixing both flaps of the attachment portion 26 permanently to the respective slide fastener portion 21 or 22 as shown, one or both of the flaps 27, 27' of the attachment portion could alternatively be supplied separately. This makes installation more difficult (because the user must hold all the separate components in position at the same time), but renders unnecessary the intermediate region 35 which separates the attachment region from the fixing region.

For example, the attachment portion 26 could comprise a first flap, permanently fixed to the slide fastener portion, having an attachment means (preferably a sheet material, alternatively individual fixing parts) on its facing surface; and a second flap, not permanently fixed to the slide fastener portion, having a corresponding attachment means (a complementary sheet material or complementary fixing parts) on its corresponding facing surface, so that the flaps can be engaged together by the attachment means with the edge region 11 of the mesh interposed between their facing surfaces in a similar way to the illustrated embodiments. For example, the sccond flap could comprise a separate adhcsivc strip or a scparate strip of complementary hook or loop material that engages the first flap through the mesh.

Alternatively, the attachment portion could comprise a first flap (made from a mesh material or some other material engageable by the attachment means), which is permancntly fixed to the slide fastener portion; and two, second and third flaps which are not permanently fixed to the slide fastener portion, the second and third flaps having attachment means for fixing together their lacing surFaces similarly to the othcr cmbodiments. The first flap is arranged alongside (juxtaposed or superposed with) the edge region 11 of the mesh of the enclosure, and the second and third flaps arranged so that the mesh of the enclosure and the first flap are interposed between their facing surfaces. The second and third flaps are then engaged together, preferably by pressing them together so that the attachment means engages their facing surfaces together through the mesh of the enclosure and optionally also through the mesh of the first flap, in any event also engaging the first flap to fix it to the mesh 10 of the enclosure.

To cach case, as in the preferred embodiment, each of the flaps extends for at least most, preferably at least 80%, more preferably not less than the length of the slide fastener.

In less preferred embodiments, rather than a pair of flaps, one or each attachment portion could comprise only a single tiap or even a plurality of individual attachment means that extend from the respective slide fastener portion. The attachment means could be distributed as a sheet on only one flap, for example, a sheet of adhesive which engages another flap through the mesh. The attachment means could comprise press studs, hooks, buttons, toggles, or other releasable and re-attachable fixings integral with the attachment portion, which may directly engage the mesh or may extend through the mesh to attach the facing surfaces of the flaps togcthcr with the mesh interposed between them.

In the preferred embodiments as shown, the attachment means 31 is integral with the attachment portion 26, which is to say, the attachment means is a permanent part of the attachment portion, so that after cutting an aperture at a convenient position in the mesh using a knife or a pair of scissors, the user may attach the slide fastener to the mesh by hand without the use of any additional fixings (i.e. items or materials not forming a permanent part of the attachment portion) or tools. [his is particularly convenient where the attachment means is also detachable and re-attachable to the mesh.

In less preferred embodiments, rather than being integral with the attachment portion, the attachment means could comprise an additional fixing separate from the attachment portion, such as a cord, or staples, eyelets or other fixings for installation by means of a tool. Where the slide fastener is factory installed in a predetermined location in the mesh, the attachment means may comprise adhesive, stitching, or any other convenient fixing.

In summary. a slide fastener has attachment portions preferably comprising paired flaps with hook-and-loop material for engaging the mesh of a horticultural enclosure so as to form an openable and eloscablc aperture at any convenient position in the enclosure.

Many further adaptations may be made within the scope of the claims.

Claims (22)

1. CLAIMS1. A horticultural enclosure (14) including a mesh (10) for excluding animals from growing plants (1), and a slide fastener (20); the slide fastener including first and second slide fastener portions (21, 22) and a slide (25), the slide being reversibly slidable along a length axis of the slide fastener to disengage and releasably re-engage together the first and second slide fastener portions; at least one of the first and second slide fastener portions having a respective attachment portion (26), the or each attachment portion including attachment means (31) adapted for attaching the respective attachment portion to a respective edge region (11) of the mesh to form an aperture (12) in the mesh which is openable and closeable by operation of the slide.
2. 2. A horticultural enclosure according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second slide fastener portions has a respective attachment portion (26).
3. 3. A horticultural enclosure according to claim I or claim 2, wherein the attachment means of at least one said attachment portion is releasable and re- attachable so that the respective attachment portion can he detached from and rc-attached to the respective edge region of the mesh.
4. 4. A horticultural enclosure according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein at least one said attachment portion includes a pair of flaps (27, 27'), the flaps having respective facing surfaces (30), the attachment means being arranged to attach the facing surfaces of the flaps together through the mesh when the mesh is interposcd between the facing surfaces.
5. 5. A horticultural enclosure according to claim 4, wherein the attachment means is distributed as a respective sheet over a respective attachment region (34) of one or each of the facing surfaces of the said pair of flaps.
6. 6. A horticultural enclosure according to claim 5. wherein each of the flaps of the said pair of flaps is permanently fixed to the respective slide fastener portion in a fixing region (28) parallel with the length axis so that the said pair of flaps is openable and closcable to receive the respective edge region of the mesh between the respective facing surfaces. 1 0
7. 7. A horticultural enclosure according to claim 6, wherein the attachment means is arranged to engage the facing surfaces of the said pair of flaps together when thc facing surfaces are pressed together through the mesh, and at least one said attachment region (34) is separated from the fixing region (28) by an intermediate region (35) in which the attachment means is not present.
8. 8. A horticultural enclosure according to any of claims 5 -7, wherein the or each attachment region has a width in a width direction transverse to the length axis greater than a mesh size of the mesh in the width direction.
9. 9. A horticultural enclosure according to any of claims 5 -8, wherein the attachment means includes a pair of rclcasably mcchanically interengagcable sheet materials (32, 33).
10. 10. A horticultural enclosure according to claim 9, wherein the sheet materials are complementary hook and loop materials.
11. 11. A kit of parts comprising a horticultural enclosure according to any of' claims 1 -10; wherein the slide fastener is supplicd unattached to the mesh and the mesh is supplied intact so that an aperture may be cut at a selectable location in the mesh to receive the slidc fastener after erecting the enclosure.
12. 12. A method of assembly of the kit of parts according to claim 11, comprising: erecting the enclosure to enclose the plants; cutting an aperture at a selectable location in the mesh of the enclosure so as to form at least one edge region of the mesh; and attaching the or each attachment portion by the respective attachment means to a respective said edge region of the mesh so that the slide fastener forms an openable and closeable aperture in the enclosure.
13. 13. A slide fastener (20) for use in forming an openable and eloseablc aperture (12) in a horticultural enclosure (14) having a mcsh (10) for excluding animals from growing plants (1); the slide fastener including first and second slide fastener portions (21, 22) and a slide (25), the slide being reversibly slidable along a length axis of the slide fastener to disengage and releasably re-engage together the first and second slide fastener portions; at least one of the first and second slide fastener portions having a respective attachment portion (26), the or each attachment portion including attachment means (31) adapted for attaching the respective attachment portion to a respcctivc edge region (11) of the mesh to form an aperture (12) in the mesh which is openable and eloseable by operation of the slide.
14. 14. A slide fastener according to claim 13, wherein each of the fir st and second slide fastener portions includes a respective attachment portion (26).
15. 15. A slide fastener according to claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the attachment means olat least one said attachment portion is releasable arid re-attachable so that the respective attachment portion can be detached from and re-attached to the respective edge region of the mesh.
16. 16. A slide fastener according to claim 13 or claim 14, wherein at least one said attachment portion includes a pair of flaps (27, 27'), the flaps having respective facing surfaces (30), the attachment means being arranged to attach the facing surfaces of the flaps together through the mesh when the mesh is interposed between the facing surfaces.
17. 17. A slide fastener according to claim 16, wherein the attachment means is distributed as a respective sheet over a respective attachment region (34) of one or each of the facing surfaces of the said pair of flaps.
18. 18. A slide fastener according to claim 17, wherein cach of the flaps of the said pair of flaps is permanently fixed to the respective slide fastener portion in a fixing region (28) parallel with the length axis so that the said pair of flaps is openable and closeable to receive the respective edge region of the mesh between the respective facing surfaces.
19. 19. A slide fastener according to claim 18, wherein the attachment means is arranged to engage the lacing surfaces of the said pair of flaps together when the facing surfaces are pressed together through the mesh, and at least one said attachment region (34) is separated from the fixing region (28) by an intermediate region (35) in which the attachment means is not present.
20. 20. A slide fastener according to any of claims 17 19, wherein the attachment means includes a pair of releasably mechanically interengageable sheet materials (32, 33).
21. 21. A slide fastener according to claim 20, wherein the sheet materials arc complementary hook and ioop materials.
22. 22. A slide fastener substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.Amendments to the claims have been filed as followsCLAIMS1. A horticultural enclosure (14) including a mesh (10) for excluding animals from growing plants (1), and a slide fastener (20); the slide fastener including first and second slide fastener portions (21, 22) and a slide (25), the slide being reversibly slidable along a length axis of the slide fastener to disengage and releasably re-engage together the first and second slide fastener portions; at least one of the first and second slide fastener portions having a respective attachment portion (26), the or each attachment portion including attachment means (3 1) adapted for attaching the respective attachment portion to a respective edge region (11) of the mesh to form an apcrture (12) ill the mesh which is openable and closeahie by operation of the slide; wherein the attachment means ol at least one said attachment portion comprises a permanent part of the respective attachment portion and is releasable c and re-attachable so that the respective attachment portion can be detached from r and re-attached to the respective edge region of the mesh.2. A horticultural enclosure according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second slide fastener portions has a respective attachment portion (26).3. A horticultural enclosure according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the at least one said attachment portion includes a pair of flaps (27, 27'), the flaps having respective facing surfaces (30), the said releasable and re-attachable attachment means being arranged to attach the facing surfaces of the flaps together through the mesh when the mesh is interposed between the facing surilices.4. A horticultural enc]osure according to claim 3. wherein the said releasable and re-attachable attachment means is distributed as a respective sheet over a respective attachment region (34) of one or each of the facing surfaces of the said pair of flaps.5. A horticultural enclosure according to claim 4, wherein each of the flaps of the said pair of Ilaps is permanently fixed to the respective slide fhstener portion in a fixing region (28) parallel with the length axis so that the said pair of flaps is openable and closeable to receive the respective edge region of the mesh between the respective facing surfaces.6. A horticultural enclosure according to claim 5, wherein the said releasable and re-attachable attachment means is arranged to engage the facing surfaces of the said pair of flaps together when the facing surfaces are pressed together through the mesh, and at least one said attachment region (34) is separated from the fixing region (28) by an intermediate region (35) in which the attachment means is not present.Cr 7. A horticultural enclosure according to any of claims 4 -6, wherein the or each attachment region has a width in a width direction transverse to the length axis greater than a mesh size ot'the mesh in the width direction.8. A horticultural enclosure according to any of claims 4 -7, wherein the said releasable and re-attachable attachment means includes a pair of releasably mechanically interengageable sheet materials (32, 33).9. A horticultural enclosure according to claim 8, wherein the sheet materials arc complementary hook and loop materials.10, A kit of parts comprising a horticultural enclosure according to any of claims 1 9; wherein the slide fastener is supplied unattached to the mesh and the mesh is supplied intact so that an aperture may he cut at a selectable location in the mesh to receive the slide fastener afier erecting the enclosure.11. A method of assembly of the kit of parts according to claim 10, comprising: erecting the enclosure to enclose the plants; cutting an aperture at a selectable location in the mesh of the enclosure so as to form at least one edge region of the mesh; and attaching the or each attachment portion by the respective attachment means to a respective said edge region of the mesh so that the slide fastener forms an openable and closeable aperture in the enclosure.12. A slide fastener (20) for use in forming an openable and eloseable aperture (12) in a horticultural enclosure (l4) having a mesh (10) for excluding animals from growi ig plants (1); the slide fastener including first and second slide fastener portions (21, 22) and a slide (25), the slide being reversibly slidable along a length axis of thc slide c fastener to disengage and releasably re-engage together the first and second slide r fastener portions; at least one of the first arid second slide fastener portions having a respective attachment portion (26), the or each attachment portion including attachment means (31) adapted for attaching the respective attachment portion to a respective edge region (11) of the mesh to form an aperture (12) in thc mesh which is openable and eloseable by operation of the slide; wherein the attachment means of at least one said attachment portion comprises a permanent part of the respective attachment portion and is releasable and re-attachable so that the respective attachment portion can he detached from and re-attached to the respective edge region of' the mesh.13. A slide fastener according to claim 12, wherein each of the first and second slide fastener portions includes a respective attachment portion (26).14. A slide fastener according to claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the at least one said attachment portion includes a pair of flaps (27, 271, the flaps having respective facing surfaces (30), the said releasable and re-attachable attachment means being arranged to attach the facing surfaces of thc flaps together through the mesh when the mesh is interposed between the facing surfaces.15. A slide fastener according to claim 14, wherein the said releasable and re-attachable attachment means is distributed as a respective sheet over a respective attachment region (34) of one or each of the fitcing surfaces of the said pair of flaps.16. A slide fastener according to claim 15, wherein each of the flaps of the said pair of flaps is permanently fixed to the respective slide fastener portion in a fixing region (28) parallel with the length axis so that the said pair of flaps is openable arid closeable to receive tile respective edge region of the mesh between c the respective facing surfaces. r17. A slide fastener according to claim 16, wherein the said releasable and re-attachable attachment means is arranged to engage the facing surfaces of the said pair or flaps together when the facing surfaces arc pressed together through the mesh, and at least one said attachment region (34) is separated from the fixing region (28) by an intermediate region (35) in which the attachment means is not present.18. A slide fastener according to any of claims 15 -17. wherein the said releasable and re-attachable attachment means includes a pair of releasably mechanically intcrcngagcable sheet materials (32, 33).19. A slide fastener according to claim 18, wherein the sheet materials are complementary hook and loop materials.20. A slide fastener substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings. r