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When Is Wasp Season in Castle Hedingham?
Nests grow quickly in July and August, so a fortnight away can change a garden, and a short check before and after a holiday is time well spent.
A week is a long time for a nest
Holidays are usually in the summer, which is also when the colony is growing fastest. A household in Castle Hedingham that leaves in late July and returns in early August may find that something small has become something large. Nobody was watching the eaves, and nothing was there to disturb the wasps.
It is not a reason to cancel the holiday. It is a reason to spend a few minutes on checks before leaving and after coming back.
The sections below follow the sequence of a holiday: before, during and after, with a view to the wasp calendar.
Before you go: the quick check
Walk round the house and garden in the days before departure. Look at the roofline, the chimney, the shed, the hedges and the ground. Watch for wasps going to the same point. Nests are started from late April, depending on the weather, so by July any that have been building are well established.
If you find activity, deal with it before you go. A nest left unattended for two weeks will be much bigger on your return, and you will have no way to monitor it. If you do not find anything, make a note of the date, so you have a baseline.
If you have time, take a couple of photographs of the eaves and garden corners before leaving. On your return, comparing them with the present state is a quick way to see whether anything has changed.
Leaving the house secure
Close windows and vents that are not needed, and make sure screens are intact. Empty bins and take the rubbish out so that nothing sweet or rotting is left behind. Wash the dishes. Clear the fruit bowl. These are the same measures you take against flies, and they also reduce the pull of the house for wasps.
- Pick any ripe fruit from trees and bushes.
- Put pet food away.
- Close the loft hatch and shed door.
- Ask a neighbour to look out for wasp activity.
A neighbour who agrees to water the plants can also glance at the garden. Tell them not to go near any wasp activity, and give them the number to ring if something looks wrong. That avoids the chance of someone walking into trouble.
A relaxed first hour back, rather than a rush to open everything, is also kinder to the family if a problem does turn up.
On your return: look before you walk in
When you come home, do not rush to open every window and unload the car by the back door. Stand for a minute in the drive and look at the roofline and the porch. Check for wasps flying to and fro. Look at the garden path and the hedge.
By August, a nest may hold from 2,000 to 10,000 or more wasps, and a house that has been quiet may have drawn a colony close. If you see a heavy flight line near the door, use another entrance and keep the family away.
Unpacking can wait for a few minutes. Take bags in through the main door, after checking, and open windows only after you have looked at the side of the house. If you notice wasps near the back door, use the front.
It is also worth turning off outside lights while you are away if they are not needed for security, since light can draw insects towards the house and the area around the door.
What to do if a nest has grown
Leave it alone. A large nest is more dangerous than a small one, and wasps that are threatened can swarm and sting. Keep people and pets indoors and away from that side of the house. Take photos from a distance and note the position.
If anyone is stung, wash the area, remove the sting if visible and apply a cold pack. Swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheezing or difficulty breathing, dizziness or a widespread rash mean a call to 999.
Keep a note of what you saw on your return, including the time and the weather. The booking team can use that information to understand how active the nest is.
If you have a holiday let or lodger at the property while you are away, tell them what to look for and whom to ring. Early reports are far more useful than finding out on your return.
Booking after the break
Book the treatment as soon as you are home. The sooner it is done, the sooner the household can unpack and get back to normal. Explain that you have just returned and are unsure how long the nest has been there. Give the position, the side of the house and any access details.
Once treatment is complete, plan a check for the following spring, and note the dates of your holidays so that you can inspect the property before and after in future years.
If the holiday was long, you may find more than one nest. Mention that when you book, so that every nest on the property can be dealt with.
Wasp Nest Removal Essex works to a single fixed rate of £90 per nest, with one visit guaranteed, and a further nest on the same property is £35 extra. Domestic and commercial properties are both part of the work, it is fully insured, and it opens seven days a week with same-day service offered.
Dial 01245 327274 or use the online booking form on the contact page. At the time of booking, ask the technician whether the empty nest can be taken down afterwards. If anyone in the household is allergic to wasp stings, note it when booking, because the booking can then be prioritised.
Wasps on your property in Castle Hedingham?
Fixed price £90 per nest, same-day service available.