young conifer trees

last year I planted 60 young conifer trees for a customer I garden for, the odd one got pulled up by something scratting at it, today I noticed more had been pulled up the odd one eaten branches broken off and small bits of bark missing where they have been chewed?
the trees are only about a foot high they are planted next to a fence on a field, so could be rabbits or squirrels im guessing? any body any wiser and how can I stop them being up rooted and being eaten?

 

Probably rabbits, if so you need to put plastic guards around each one I'm afraid.

 

thank you thought that might be the case:bigthumb:

 

Rabbit stew is gorgeous. Win win

 

Shame on you for even planting conifer trees. Unless you want to attract rabbits, then go ahead

I prefer something more edible. Blueberries, Aronia or Amelanchier. And birds may (scratch that, they WILL) eat your crops but they are a lot more fun to look at than some rabbits slowly felling years of work.