When Is Wasp Season in Nuthall?
The school summer holidays fall right on top of the wasp peak, so a short family plan makes outdoor time easier and safer for everyone.
Holidays and wasps arrive together
For many families in Nuthall the long summer break begins just as wasp colonies approach their largest size. Nests started in late April have been growing for twelve weeks or more by the end of July, and August is the peak, when a nest can hold 2,000 to 10,000 or more wasps. Children are outside more and eating snacks and drinks in the garden, which is exactly when wasps are most interested in what they have.
Planning does not mean worrying. A few sensible measures at the start of the holidays, agreed as a family, make the weeks easier and let the children enjoy the garden without constant anxiety about wasps.
Teaching children what to do
A calm, simple message works best. Wasps usually only sting when they feel threatened or are squashed against skin. Children can learn a few habits:
- Stay still or move away slowly if a wasp lands nearby
- Do not wave arms or swat
- Never throw anything at a nest or poke a hole
- Tell an adult straight away if they see wasps going in and out of a gap
- Check drinks before sipping, especially from cans and open cups
It is a good idea to explain that a nest is not something to look at up close, however interesting it may seem.
Many parents find it easier to turn the advice into a game, such as who can spot the most wasp-free spots to sit, or a house rule about drinking from cups with lids. Children who feel they are part of the plan tend to stick to it.
Picnics, barbecues and paddling pools
Sweet food and fizzy drinks are the biggest draw for wasps in late summer. Use cups with lids or straws, wipe sticky hands and faces, and cover plates between helpings. Keep the bin a little distance from where everyone is sitting, and tidy up crumbs promptly.
If wasps keep arriving in numbers at the same spot, resist the urge to stay and tough it out. Move to another part of the garden, and look for where they are heading. A steady flight path to a single gap or hole suggests a nest, which is something to deal with rather than endure for the rest of the holidays.
Paddling pools and water play are often fine, as wasps do land to drink, but they rarely bother anyone who is moving about. Where wasps become a nuisance is around the edge of a pool where drinks and snacks are left. Set up a separate snack table some distance away, and keep sweet food covered.
If you are hosting a birthday party, think about the layout beforehand. Place food tables in shade away from hedges and eaves, offer drinks in cartons with straws, and bring out cake only when it is about to be eaten. A helper whose only job is to clear plates and wipe surfaces prevents most of the sticky leftovers that draw wasps.
Should a nest be discovered close to where a party is planned, it is better to arrange treatment first, or to hold the event in another part of the garden, than to ask guests to put up with wasps.
If someone is stung
Most stings are painful but not dangerous. Wash the area, remove the sting if you can see it, and hold a cold pack against the skin to ease pain and swelling. Keep an eye on the child for a while afterwards.
Call 999 if there are signs of a serious allergic reaction: swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheezing or difficulty breathing, dizziness or a widespread rash. If you know a family member is allergic, speak to your GP about it, and tell us when you book a treatment so we can take it into account.
Afterwards, put a cold pack on the area for a while, and avoid scratching. Tell the child it is all right to feel sore and a bit upset. If swelling seems to spread unusually or the child seems unwell, seek medical advice.
Make sure you know where the nearest first aid supplies are, and teach older children to come and find an adult instead of running around or screaming, which tends to attract more attention from nearby wasps.
Getting a nest dealt with before the holidays end
The best moment to find a nest is in spring, but if one turns up in July or August, do not wait. Keep children away from the area and arrange treatment. The fixed price is £95 per nest, with £35 for an additional nest at the same property, and the price is confirmed on the phone first. There is no call-out charge, we are open seven days a week and same-day service is offered.
Ring 0115 937 5117 or use the online booking form on the contact page.
Days out and holiday clubs
Wasp season does not stop at the garden gate. When you are out at a park, a playground or a campsite, the same rules apply: cover food, keep drinks closed and move away from areas where wasps gather. If you notice a nest at a place where children play, let the owner or manager know so they can arrange treatment.
Packing a few wipes means sticky hands and faces can be cleaned quickly, which reduces the attention you get. It is worth having a small first-aid kit in the car or bag as well, containing the sort of items the sting advice mentions.
When the children go back to school, the wasp season is still going. Colonies may well still be active into October, so keep up the same habits at weekends and in the afternoons when everyone is home. By then, it is also a good time to talk about what went well and what you would do differently next year, perhaps by checking for nests before the holidays begin.
If you notice an old nest in autumn that is no longer in use, you can ask the technician at the time of booking whether the empty nest can be taken down.
Wasps on your property in Nuthall?
Fixed price £95 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.