Wasp Control for Drapers Green Restaurants, Pubs and Commercial Premises

In a residential or day-care setting, many people spend time in the garden and at mealtimes, and staff must keep them away from a nest calmly.

People who need extra care

Residents or day-centre users may be older, may have limited mobility and may not always understand why they should avoid a spot. Some may have health conditions or take medication that makes a sting more of a worry. A wasp nest in the garden, on the conservatory roof or by the kitchen door therefore needs prompt, thoughtful handling.

The first step is to protect people, the second to arrange treatment, and the third to keep families and colleagues informed.

Staff in care settings are used to planning around individual needs. Apply the same approach here: decide which residents use which parts of the garden, and who is affected by the nest area. A short note on the daily handover sheet covers it.

Activities that take place outdoors, such as gardening groups, tea on the lawn or an outing from a minibus, need the same attention. Check the area before an activity, and reschedule or move indoors if wasps are present.

Garden and conservatory

A garden is often the most valued space, and a nest can take it out of use. Check:

• eaves, soffits and the roof of the conservatory
• sheds, summerhouses and greenhouses
• benches, arbours and pergolas
• flower beds, hedges and fruit trees
• bins and compost areas

If you see wasps going into one spot, mark off the area from a distance and move seating elsewhere. Staff should stay with residents who like to be outside, and steer them calmly to another part of the garden.

Bird feeders, hanging baskets and sweet-smelling shrubs are charming but also attract insects. If the nest is nearby, move feeders further away and take down any feeders containing sweet liquid. Water features can also draw wasps in hot weather.

Mobility aids such as walkers and wheelchair ramps may take residents close to the building wall. Check the route for wasps before an outing.

Kitchen and mealtimes

A care kitchen is busy with warm food, desserts and sweet drinks, and doors are often opened for deliveries and bins. Keep bins lidded, empty them after each meal service and keep sweet items covered. Close fly-screen doors if you have them. Sticky spills on the floor and the table should be cleaned straight away.

When wasps enter the dining room, remain calm. Staff should avoid swatting, open a window wide for the wasp to leave, and cover food and drink. Do not use aerosol sprays near food or near people with breathing difficulties.

Laundry and clinical waste areas are also worth checking. Bins with soiled or food items attract wasps, and the roof edge above the laundry can hold a nest.

Talking to residents and families

Keep the explanation simple and reassuring. Residents should be told in plain words that there are wasps in one part of the garden, that it is closed for a short while and that someone is dealing with it. Families may appreciate a short note or a word at visiting time.

Staff should know which residents, if any, are known to have an allergy to stings, and should have your usual arrangements for such a person ready. Tell the office when you book if anyone is allergic so that the visit can be prioritised.

If a resident is confused or distressed by wasps, gentle reassurance and a move to a calm room are best. A quiet explanation, repeated as needed, works better than a long one.

Visitors who bring flowers, cakes or sweets for residents add to the sugar at the entrance. A small sign asking visitors to bring food inside promptly, and not to leave it on the garden table, can help during the wasp season.

Booking

The business takes on wasp nests at domestic addresses as well as commercial sites. The team offers same-day service, is open seven days a week and carries full insurance. A single nest costs a fixed £90 and that includes one visit guaranteed. Another nest at the same property costs £35 extra.

To arrange a visit, ring 01245 327274 or send a request through the online booking form on the contact page. Say where the nest is and how the technician can reach it, and explain when the garden is least in use. Give the name of a member of staff who will meet the technician. Ask the technician at booking about taking the empty nest down.

Make sure the technician can reach the nest without disturbing residents. A staff escort to the spot and a clear route avoids confusion.

Ask whether the technician can advise on when the garden can be used again.

First aid and records

Follow your usual first aid and incident procedures. As a general guide, wash a sting, remove the sting if visible and apply a cold pack. Treat it as urgent and call 999 for a widespread rash, dizziness, wheezing or difficulty breathing or swelling of the face, lips or throat. Those with a known allergy should raise it with their GP.

Wasps begin building from about late April, depending on the weather. A check of the garden and roof edges in spring by the maintenance lead in Drapers Green or any other setting is a simple way to stay ahead. Keep a note of what is found and what was done.

If you manage several settings or a larger group, agree a standard approach so that managers know what to do. A single-page procedure, covering who to tell, how to protect residents, how to book and where to record the incident, is easy to follow at short notice.

Should you see what looks like a bee rather than a wasp, get in touch with a local beekeeper or the relevant bee organisation. The technician treats wasps only.

Frequently asked questions

More wasp advice for Drapers Green