Wasp Nest in a Hedge or Bush – What Stoughton Garden Owners Should Know
When someone in the household is allergic to wasp stings, a nest in the hedge needs more careful handling than usual, so here is how to plan around it.
Allergy changes the picture
For most people a wasp sting is painful and not much more. For someone with an allergy it can be very different. Because of this, a nest in a hedge or bush at an allergic person’s home is more serious, and the household needs a plan.
The key point is that the risk does not come from being close to the nest alone. It comes from being stung at all, and a nest raises the chance of that for everyone using the garden. Reducing contact with the garden is the quickest way to cut the risk.
If you live in Stoughton, in Leicestershire, and someone at home has reacted badly to a wasp sting in the past, take extra care from the first time you see wasps going into the hedge. This article is general safety guidance and not medical advice.
Speak to your GP
A person who knows they are allergic should discuss it with their GP. The GP can explain what to carry and what to do if a sting happens, and can review any advice the person has already been given. We cannot advise on medicines or doses, and it would not be right for us to try.
If you are not sure whether someone is allergic, because they were stung years ago and it was never looked at, a quick word with a GP is a sensible step. It is better to know in advance.
Make sure everyone at home knows the plan, including older children, relatives who visit and anyone who looks after the garden or the allergic person.
Keeping the allergic person away
The simplest approach is to keep the person indoors, or in a part of the garden far from the hedge, until the nest has been treated. That may feel restrictive, but it is a short-term step and it is the safest option.
- Use a different door if the usual one is near the hedge.
- Keep windows near the nest closed in warm weather.
- Do not let the person trim, water or tidy near the hedge.
- Move seating and play spaces away from the nest.
- Walk calmly and avoid swatting if a wasp comes near.
Wasps are drawn to sweet food and drink, so keep these inside and wipe up spills promptly. Check cans, cups and ice lollies before use.
If the hedge is near a path that the allergic person uses to get to the car or the gate, think about a different route for a few days. A short detour round the house is a small price for avoiding the risk, and it can be dropped as soon as the technician gives the all-clear.
What to do if a sting happens
Wash the area, remove the sting if you can see it and apply a cold pack. Watch the person closely afterwards. Call 999 straight away if there is swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheezing or difficulty breathing, dizziness or a widespread rash. Do not wait to see whether it passes.
Make sure whoever is with the person knows how to call for help and can give the address clearly. Keep a phone to hand when anyone is outside near the hedge.
Telling us when you book
When you ring, say that someone in the household is allergic to wasp stings. We take it into account when arranging the visit. It also helps if you tell us where the person normally goes in the garden, so the technician knows which areas matter.
We cannot promise a particular arrival time, but the service is available seven days a week with same-day visits offered. Until the visit, keep to the precautions above.
After treatment, the technician will tell you when the hedge is fine to use again. The allergic person should wait for that advice before going back near it, and it is sensible to be a little more cautious than other household members for a while.
Practical routines for a wasp-aware household
Even outside the nest period, it helps to get into a few habits when someone at home reacts badly to stings. Check cups, cans and bottles before drinking from them outdoors, because wasps crawl inside. Keep food covered at a barbecue and clear plates promptly.
Wear shoes in the garden rather than going barefoot, since a wasp on the grass or among fallen fruit can be trodden on without notice. Be aware of windfalls and rubbish bins, which draw wasps in the late summer.
Look over the garden from late April, when wasps start to build, and make a habit of walking past the hedges at a distance every week or two. Finding a nest early gives you time to arrange treatment calmly rather than in a rush.
If you are going on holiday or leaving the home with a lodger or house-sitter, tell them about any nest and about the allergy, and give them a phone number to ring for treatment.
Booking and what happens next
One nest is treated for £95 per nest, and any additional nest at the same property is £35 each. There is no call-out charge. We take bookings seven days a week, offer same-day service, and our technicians are trained and fully insured. Domestic and commercial customers are both covered.
For a booking, call 0116 214 9259 or use the online form on our contact page. We confirm the price by phone before anyone visits, and nothing is done until you are happy to proceed.
If you would like the empty nest taken down, ask when you book whether it can be done.
Wasps on your property in Stoughton?
Fixed price £95 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.