When Is Wasp Season in Barton-le-Clay?
For families, wasp season is really about the school holidays and the garden. This guide links the wasp calendar to picnics, paddling pools and play time.
The holidays and the peak overlap
The six-week summer break lands almost exactly on the busiest part of the wasp year. Colonies grow from early April, depending on the weather, and are at their largest in August. So the weeks when children spend most time outdoors are the weeks when wasps are most numerous.
That is not a reason to keep everyone indoors. A few habits make a picnic or a long afternoon in the garden in Barton-le-Clay far less stressful.
With a little planning you can enjoy the holidays and keep the wasp problem in proportion. Most of what follows is common sense, which is exactly why it is worth saying out loud to the children.
If you are hosting a party, a quick look round the garden the day before is worth the time. Check the shed, the hedge line and the base of any wall for wasps going in and out, and keep the tables well away from anything suspicious.
Picnic and garden food
Wasps are drawn by sweet and savoury food alike, and they are strongly drawn by sugar late in the season. Keep an eye on:
- juice cartons, cans and squash beakers, which wasps crawl into
- ice lollies and ice cream, which drip
- sandwiches with jam, ham or paste
- the bin or carrier bag at the end of the picnic
Use cups with lids or straws, check what is in a can before drinking, and move rubbish well away from the rug. If a wasp lands, keep still, let it fly off and do not slap at it.
For a day out, take a sealed container for leftovers and a bag you can close for rubbish. For the garden, serve food in portions rather than leaving a spread on the table, and bring dishes in as soon as the meal is over.
Fruit is particularly attractive in late summer. Cut melon, strawberries and grapes should be covered, and the skin and cores should go into a closed bin straight away.
If you are out and about, a small bottle of water is handy for rinsing sticky hands and faces, which stops wasps from following children across a park.
Where children get stung
Most stings come from accidents rather than aggression. A bare foot on a wasp in the grass, a hand in a bin, or a child poking a hole in the ground. Teach children not to go near a nest, not to throw things at one, and to tell an adult if they see wasps going into a hole or gap.
Paddling pools, sandpits and playhouses are worth a quick look each day in summer, because a nest can start in a quiet corner of the garden.
A short family rule helps: if you see wasps going in and out of a gap, a hole or a shed, you tell a grown-up and you stay away. There is no need to frighten children, only to make sure they know that nests are not for poking.
Also remind older children and visiting friends, who may not know the garden. A lad kicking a ball into a hedge is exactly the sort of event that disturbs a hidden nest.
If someone is stung
Stay calm and move away from the area. Wash the sting with soap and water, take the sting out if you can see it, and use a cold pack to ease any swelling. For general safety, watch the person 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. People with known allergies should speak to their GP about their plan. If anyone in your family has an allergy, tell the technician when you book so the booking can be prioritised.
It is also sensible to know what you would do if a sting happened away from home, such as at a park or beach. Keep a small cold pack or a cold drink to hand in summer and know where the nearest help is.
If a child is stung and seems unwell in any way, or the reaction seems more than a local swelling, seek medical advice. For anything that looks like a severe allergic reaction, call 999.
Many parents worry about getting the first aid wrong. The basics are simple and calm: move away, wash, remove the sting if visible, apply something cold, and watch. If you have any doubt, seek medical advice.
When to call about a nest near the children
If you find wasps going to one spot in the fence, shed, wall or ground, keep the children away and book a treatment. Do not try to deal with it while the children are about.
The technician can visit in the evening or at the weekend, which suits families, and same-day service is offered. The price is £70 per nest, and £30 for each additional nest, with no call-out charge. Phone 07852 111 437 or use the online booking form.
Do not wait until the children are back at school. A nest that is treated in August makes the rest of the holiday easier, and the garden can be used again sooner.
When you phone, mention the age of the children and whether they play near the nest. The office will be better able to advise on the best time for the visit.
A final point for families is to agree who is in charge of what. One adult can keep an eye on the nest area and the children's access, while another makes the call. Clear roles stop things being forgotten in the busy holiday weeks.
Wasps on your property in Barton-le-Clay?
Fixed price £70 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.