Wasp Control for Stapleford Abbotts Restaurants, Pubs and Commercial Premises

A nest in a tree or hedge at the edge of a car park can go unnoticed until a customer walks beneath it, so a short outside routine is worth having.

The edge of the site

Most business owners look after the building and the inside. The boundary is different: a hedge between the car park and the road, a tree with a hollow, a bank along the fence. These places are rarely checked, yet they suit wasps very well. A nest can be built within a dense hedge without a single visible sign, only a steady flight line.

It comes to attention when a customer or delivery driver mentions being stung, or when staff notice wasps gathering where they park.

It is easy to assume that wasps nest only in buildings. In reality, hedges and trees offer shelter, shade and a ready supply of material for building, so a boundary can be a very good place. If your site backs on to open land, the number of potential spots rises.

What a nest in a hedge or tree looks like

The nest itself is often out of sight. What you see is movement:

• wasps flying in and out of a single point in the hedge
• a small hole in the ground at the base of a tree or hedge
• a grey papery lump visible in a bare branch or a hollow
• a faint buzzing when you pass close by
• wasps landing on the dead wood or fence as if chewing

Stay well away and do not poke. A trimmed hedge is a classic place for accidents because the first sign of a nest is often a hedge trimmer cutting into it.

Early in the season, a nest might hold only a handful of wasps and look unremarkable. By August it can hold thousands. That growth is why it is worth checking in spring and early summer: the earlier you spot it, the less disruption you face.

Keep a distance of several metres when you are looking, and never stand directly below a suspected nest. Wasps leaving the entrance fly out in a line, and you do not want to be standing in it.

Protecting customers while you wait

If the nest is near the car park, cone off the closest spaces and put a sign on the path. Ask regular visitors and staff to park elsewhere, and make sure delivery drivers know. If the hedge borders a public pavement, tell the technician at booking so that the visit can be planned sensibly.

Do not allow anyone to cut back the hedge or strim the verge until the nest has been dealt with. Grounds contractors need to be told in good time, since they might be booked for a routine visit.

Children and pets are particularly at risk, since they are low to the ground and less likely to keep their distance. Keep them well away.

If you hire grounds staff or a gardener, tell them the same day. A written note on the workshop door is better than a note passed on by word of mouth. They are the people most likely to disturb the nest with strimmers, mowers and trimmers.

Ground nests

Not every nest is in a hedge. Wasps frequently use old burrows in banks, lawns and verges. A hole about the size of a coin with wasps flying in and out is the signature. Because the entrance is at ground level, people step on the area without noticing, and the result is a sudden attack.

Mark the spot with a cone or a stick at a safe distance. Do not pour anything into it, cover it or try to fill it with soil. Blocking the entrance can lead wasps to dig another, and can leave angry insects at the surface.

When you ring to book, say it is a ground nest, so that the technician is prepared.

When the visit takes place, keep people away from the spot until the technician says otherwise. If the nest is in a public place or beside a footpath, put out a sign explaining the situation so that passers-by do not wander across the area.

Costs and booking

The business treats nests at homes and commercial premises, is open seven days a week and offers same-day service. It is fully insured. The set price per nest is £90 with one visit guaranteed, and a second nest at the same property is £35 extra.

To arrange a visit, ring 01245 327274 or use the online booking form on the contact page. Describe the position carefully, including how far from the building it is and how a vehicle can reach it. The technician covers the village and surrounding villages. If anyone using the premises is allergic to wasp stings, say so at booking so that the visit can be prioritised.

If you have more than one possible spot, say so. An additional nest on the same property is £35 extra, and it is far better to deal with both during the same visit than to leave one to grow.

Stings and aftercare

If a colleague or customer is stung, wash the area, remove the sting if you can see it and apply a cold pack. Go straight to a 999 call for swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheezing or difficulty breathing, dizziness or a widespread rash. People known to be allergic should speak to their GP.

After treatment, wasps from the nest that were out foraging may circle the spot briefly. This is normal. Wait for the technician’s advice before removing cones or cutting back the hedge. Make a note of the location, and include the boundary in your spring walk round, because a hedge that suited one nest can suit another.

Keep in mind that wasps will not be fooled by a hedge being tidy. A site with a neat front and a rough boundary can still be a home to a nest, so include the less-visited edges in your walk round. Ten minutes in May saves a lot of trouble later.

If you rent your premises, a boundary hedge may belong to a neighbour or a landlord. Who arranges treatment depends on your tenancy agreement, so check it, but do not leave customers exposed in the meantime.

Frequently asked questions

More wasp advice for Stapleford Abbotts