Wasp Control for Ashdon Restaurants, Pubs and Commercial Premises

A club with a bar, a pavilion and a pitch has food, drink and crowds on match days, so wasps need dealing with before the fixtures begin.

Match day pressure

On a match day a club is full: players, parents, spectators, children with squash and crisps, a tea hatch with cake and a bar serving sweet drinks. Late in the summer season, whether cricket, bowls or tennis, there is plenty of warm weather and a lot of food. Wasps from any nearby nest are likely to find it.

The committee or the person who runs the building has to look after players and visitors, many of them children. A nest near the pavilion or changing rooms is a priority.

The mix of volunteers, parents and children adds to the challenge. Few of them will know the building as well as the committee, so a clear notice at the gate is valuable. A sign on the pavilion door reading that a nest is being dealt with, and asking people to keep away from the marked area, reaches most people.

Cricket teas are a particular treat for wasps. Plates of sandwiches, cake and jugs of squash left on a table in the sun are a gift. Put the tea out under a cover, serve it at the last moment and clear it fast.

The pavilion and its surroundings

Walk around the buildings and the edge of the pitch before the season starts. Look at:

• roof edges, soffits and the gaps around shutters
• storage sheds for equipment and mowers
• the space under raised floors or decking
• hedges, trees and banks around the ground
• roller and sight screens stored away for winter
• bin stores behind the bar

Equipment stored for winter is a common site for nests. Check before moving anything.

Dugouts, scoreboards and covered seating are all sheltered, dry structures that wasps might choose. They often stand empty for months, so a thorough look at the start of the season is wise. Equipment such as roller covers and pitch covers, left for weeks in a shed, can also hold a nest.

Check the area beneath any raised seating or decking from outside only. Do not crawl underneath to look. Wasps defend their nest vigorously and a person on all fours has no way of retreating.

Bar, tea hatch and spectators

The bar and tea hatch draw wasps because of sugary drinks, spilled beer and cakes. Keep bins lidded, wipe the counter and rinse glasses and bottles. Cover cakes and sandwiches. Ask spectators to take cups and cans to the bins. A volunteer who goes round the touchline collecting rubbish during the match is worth their weight in gold.

If wasps are bothering people at the hatch, serve from inside and use a closed window. Do not swat or spray. A fielder or a player who is stung while concentrating on the game is at risk of an accident.

Junior sessions need special care. Children running between the pavilion and the field are the likeliest to run into a wasp or a nest. Coaches should tell the children where to stand and to leave wasps alone.

Groundsmen, mowers and rollers

The people who look after the ground are the most likely to disturb a nest in a bank or hedge. Mowers, strimmers and rollers can all provoke a colony. Ask the groundsman to report any wasp activity and to avoid the area until the nest is treated. Mark the area with cones from a distance.

Do not allow children or members to investigate the nest. Make sure the junior section coaches know where it is.

Visiting teams will not know the ground. A friendly word from the home captain or secretary, telling them which area to avoid, prevents an incident and makes a good impression.

Booking

A home or a business can book this service to treat a wasp nest. The team is fully insured and works seven days a week, with same-day service offered. A nest is priced at a fixed £90 and one visit is guaranteed. Any additional nest at the same property is £35 extra.

Call 01245 327274 or send a request through the online booking form on the contact page. Say that the nest is at a sports club, give the position and mention the dates of upcoming fixtures. If a player or member is allergic to stings, tell the office at booking so that the visit can be prioritised. The technician’s area includes the village and surrounding villages.

If a nest is found just before a tournament or fixture day, book as soon as possible. Same-day service is offered, so there is no need to wait.

First aid and the season

Clubs usually have a first aid kit and a named first aider. Check yours at the start of the season. If a sting happens, clean the area, remove any visible sting and apply a cold pack. Dial 999 if there is a widespread rash, dizziness, wheezing or difficulty breathing or swelling of the face, lips or throat. Individuals with a known allergy to stings should talk to their GP.

Wasps begin nests in late April, depending on the weather, which is also when many summer sports begin. A look around the ground by the club secretary or groundsman is the best preparation. For a club in Ashdon, like any other, it takes little time.

At the end of the season, when kit is put away, store equipment off the ground and away from walls, and leave the shed doors in a state that makes a quick look easy in spring. Pack mower covers, nets and roller covers in sealed boxes rather than loose piles.

Where the insects look like bees rather than wasps, a local beekeeper or the relevant bee organisation is the right contact. The technician treats wasps only.

Frequently asked questions

More wasp advice for Ashdon