Do Wasps Return to the Same Nest Every Year? A Guide for Henham on the Hill Gardens

A neat stack of logs for the stove is an inviting home for insects, and a few simple habits make handling it safer.

The log store in autumn

When the stove or fire is in use, firewood is carried in daily and the stack gets disturbed. Through the warm months it sits undisturbed in the dry, with gaps between the logs and a roof over the top. To a wasp queen, that is a ready-made shelter.

A queen may spend winter between logs or under bark, and in spring she may look for a place to start a nest. An old nest found in a log pile is a leftover from a colony that died the autumn before, and it will not be reused.

For households in Henham on the Hill, a few habits at the log store make a difference.

It is worth repeating that wasps do not return to last year’s nest. The old wood and paper are not used again by any wasp.

Even an old nest can look alarming if it falls out of a stack onto the floor.

Treat any nest with care until you are certain.

Lifting logs safely

Wear gloves, and move logs one at a time. Look at each one before you pick it up. Do not push your hand into a gap you cannot see into. In cold weather a sleeping queen may be found between logs or under bark, and she will not be dangerous, but a sudden grab could change that.

• Work in daylight.
• Take logs from the top and front.
• Look at the underside before lifting.
• Shake out bark and debris before bringing logs indoors.

Do not store logs directly against the house wall, as that gives insects an easy route in.

Keep the area tidy during the winter. A shed with gaps at the base of the wall provides a route for a sleepy queen to settle among stored logs, and a tarpaulin wrapped tight over the top makes a snug hollow. Leave air gaps for ventilation and use a rack with a roof.

If you buy logs by the load, they may already have a sleeper inside, so stack them carefully and watch for insects over the first few weeks.

Keep the lid of the log store shut in summer.

Check the base for gaps.

Do this weekly.

A pair of thick gloves and a steady hand matter more than speed.

Wasps indoors in winter

Sometimes a sleeping queen comes in with the firewood, warms up beside the stove and starts to buzz around the room. She is not a nest. She has woken because of the heat. Open a window or door and let her out, or catch her with a glass and card and release her outside in a sheltered spot.

Do not swat. She is not aggressive, and in winter she is slow.

Bring in only as many logs as you need for the day, and keep them in a basket near the door instead of piling them beside the stove for weeks.

Kindling baskets and kindling boxes are another place to look. Tip them out outdoors on a mild day if you are unsure, and check for anything that falls out.

Keep a torch beside the log store, and use it before reaching into dark spaces.

A log store with a shed roof or lean-to cover is better than loose tarpaulin because it leaves space for air to circulate and discourages damp.

In the summer, check the store once a fortnight, not just in autumn when you start burning.

Spring checks

As temperatures rise, from late April depending on the weather, queens leave their winter shelter. Check the log store for any wasps entering and leaving a gap. A nest in a woodpile will often be near the base or at the back, and the entrance may be a hole between logs.

Do not dismantle a stack that shows activity. Step back and call for help.

Remember to check any other fuel stores too, such as coal bunkers and pellet sheds, because they provide similar dry cover.

Where you store garden waste before burning, check that it has not become a nesting place before you light it.

Bring in wood in the cool of the day, when wasps are less active, if you are collecting in summer.

Where to keep wood

Keep the stack off the ground on pallets or a rack, a little away from walls and outbuildings, and covered with a lid or sheet. This keeps the wood dry and reduces hiding places. Leave a small gap behind it so you can see the back wall.

Old nests can be bagged once you are sure they are empty. If you want the old shell gone, ask about it when you arrange the visit.

Children who help carry logs should be shown how to look first and lift second, and told to call an adult if they see a wasp.

A bag of kindling kept on the porch should be shaken out before you take it into the house.

Wear gloves for the whole job, since splinters and insects both cause trouble.

Getting help

If a nest appears in or near the log store, contact Wasp Nest Removal Essex on 01245 327274 or use the online form on our contact page. We charge £90 per nest, fixed, with one visit guaranteed, and a further nest on the property is £35 per nest.

Our cover is seven days a week, with same-day service on offer and full insurance for domestic and commercial customers.

If anyone at home is allergic to stings, say so when you book so the booking can be prioritised.

Frequently asked questions

More wasp advice for Henham on the Hill