Wasp Nest in Your Garden Shed? Safe Treatment Options in Woodthorpe
Where children play near an outbuilding, a wasp nest is a more pressing matter, and a few clear house rules keep everyone safe until it is dealt with.
Why play areas and nests collide
The things that make a corner of the garden appealing to children, such as a wooden playhouse, a shed to hide behind and a shady gap by a hedge, also suit wasps. In Woodthorpe, as anywhere, a nest that has become established near a play area means the garden is, for the moment, not as safe as it was.
Children are inquisitive, noisy and unpredictable around wasps, so the right response is early, calm and firm.
Parents and grandparents often find that they discover a nest only after a child comes running to say there are lots of wasps near the den. Treat that report seriously, calm the child and walk them away from the area, without running or shouting.
Explaining the situation without alarm
Tell the children plainly that there are wasps living in or near the shed or playhouse, that the wasps will be dealt with by a professional, and that until then that part of the garden is out of bounds. Children cope well with a clear rule and a reason.
- No going near the building or the place the wasps use
- No throwing things or poking sticks
- Tell an adult straight away if wasps are seen
- Stay still and walk away slowly if a wasp lands on them
If friends or cousins are visiting, let their parents know too.
It can help to give children a job. Perhaps they can draw a sign saying the area is closed, or they can be in charge of reminding younger siblings. Taking part makes children more likely to follow the rule, and it turns a worry into something manageable.
Moving the play away
Pick a different spot, as far from the nest as the garden allows. Move small play items, paddling pools, bikes and toys that live near the affected building. Do not go back to retrieve anything left near the nest, however small.
Trampolines, swings and slides close to the nest need care as well. Vibration travels, and a child bouncing up and down near a wall can disturb a nest on the other side. If equipment is within a few metres, avoid using it until treatment has been carried out.
Think about the route to the new play spot as well. If the path goes close to the nest, choose another way. If you have a shared garden, tell the neighbours with children so that they can keep their own children away from the same part of the boundary.
For toddlers and babies, supervision is even more important. A pram or a playmat left on the grass near the shed is easy to forget, so do a check of the whole garden before bringing little ones out. Tell childminders, grandparents and visitors about the nest as well, as they may not know where the wasps are.
Snacks and drinks
While the problem lasts, keep snacks and fruit squash indoors, or well away from the nest. Wasps are drawn to sweet things and a child holding a lolly or a drink in the garden is a magnet. Use cups with lids, and check drinks before sipping.
If a child is stung, wash the area, remove the sting if you can see it and apply a cold pack. Seek urgent help by calling 999 if you see swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheezing or difficulty breathing, dizziness or a widespread rash.
Picnics and parties are a special case. If you have a birthday planned in the garden, move the party indoors or to the opposite end of the garden. Alternatively, get the nest treated before the day. Anyone who attends should be told where the nest is.
Arranging the visit
Our treatment is a fixed £95 per nest, and £35 for an additional nest on the same property. There is no call-out charge, and the price is confirmed by phone before the visit. We offer same-day service and are open seven days a week. Our technicians are trained and the work is fully insured, so you can leave the job to them.
Book by ringing 0115 937 5117 or using the form on the contact page. If a child or other family member is allergic to stings, say so when you book and we will take it into account.
Please do not be tempted to ask children, or older teenagers, to help locate or knock down a nest. Even a calm and careful young person is at risk of being stung many times. Leave it to the trained technician.
Pets also wander and do not understand warnings. Dogs may sniff at a ground entrance or snap at wasps near a nest. Keep them on a lead or indoors while the nest is in place.
Getting play back to normal
When the technician has finished, wait for their go-ahead before letting children back. Check that no wasps are hovering around the old entrance, and ask whether the empty nest can be taken down so it is not a source of curiosity.
It is also a good moment to inspect play buildings for gaps and holes. Fill them once you are sure no wasps are using them, and look at the structure again in spring, when queens start searching for sites.
A weekly look around the play area in spring and summer, at the same time you check the lawn and equipment, is a good habit. Look at the underside of the roof of the playhouse, the gaps between planks and any corners where wasps seem to be loitering.
Keep an eye out for wasps showing up near any new structures.
Wasps on your property in Woodthorpe?
Fixed price £95 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.