Wasp Nest in a Hedge or Bush – What Barnsley Garden Owners Should Know

When children play and pets roam, a hidden hedge nest becomes a daily worry. Here is how to make the garden safe until it has been treated.

Why young children and pets are most at risk

Adults tend to notice wasps and move away. Small children may not, and dogs often investigate anything that buzzes. A ball kicked into a hedge or a dog sniffing under a bush is a very common way for a hidden nest to be disturbed.

If you have noticed more wasps than usual around the garden in Barnsley, or watched them disappearing into the greenery, treat the whole hedge as off limits until it has been checked.

Think also about where the children go when they are not under direct supervision, such as a trampoline or a den. Anything close to the hedge needs to be moved or avoided.

Dogs are a particular concern because they often chase and snap at wasps, which draws attention to them and can lead to multiple stings in a short time. Keeping them away from the hedge is the best preventive measure.

Gardens in a town the size of Barnsley vary from small yards to long family plots, but the principle is the same. The smaller the garden, the closer the hedge is to everything else, so the safe zone may need to be a decision to stay indoors for an hour at a time.

Making a safe zone

You do not need to cordon off the entire garden, only the area around the hedge.

• Set up play and seating at the opposite end of the garden, as far from the hedge as possible.
• Use a temporary barrier, such as garden furniture or a clothes airer, to remind people where not to go.
• Take balls, toys and paddling pools out of the hedge area so nobody has to retrieve them.
• Keep dogs on a lead or indoors during the day, particularly in the warm afternoon hours.
• Move bins, compost and food waste away from the hedge.

Explain to older children in simple terms that there are wasps living in the hedge and they must not go near it, and why.

Fences or panels can be moved temporarily without any cost, and they stop the uncertainty over who goes where.

Talking to children without scaring them

A calm tone matters more than detail. Tell them wasps are living in the hedge and that a person whose job it is to look after them is coming to sort it out. Explain that the best thing to do if a wasp comes close is to stay still or walk slowly indoors, and not to wave or run.

Remind them not to throw things at the hedge and not to poke it with sticks, however tempting. Check that visiting friends and relatives have been told too.

It also helps to agree a clear word or signal with children, so that if someone sees a wasp coming near, everyone knows to walk calmly indoors.

Tell a child who is old enough to understand that wasps are not trying to be nasty. They are protecting their home, and the way to be safe is simply to give them space.

If a ball does go into the hedge, leave it there. A ball is replaceable, and the nest is not something to explore.

If someone is stung

Stings do happen despite precautions. Stay calm and move the person away from the hedge.

1. Take them indoors and check for a visible sting; if there is one, scrape it out gently.
2. Wash the area with soap and water.
3. Hold a cold pack on the sting for a while to ease the swelling.
4. Watch closely for any change over the next hour or so.

Call 999 straight away if there is swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheezing or difficulty breathing, dizziness or a widespread rash. A dog that is stung around the mouth or face, or that seems unwell afterwards, should be seen by a vet. If anyone in your family has a known allergy, speak to your GP about what to do.

Keep a note of the time of the sting and what the person was doing, in case you need to explain it to a doctor or pharmacist later.

Everyday habits that help

While you wait for the technician, a few simple routines make life easier for everyone in the household.

• Keep outdoor food and sweet drinks covered, and clear plates and cups quickly.
• Put lids on bins and keep them away from the hedge.
• Check children’s shoes before putting them on if they have been left outside.
• Close windows near the hedge in the afternoon if wasps are coming into the house.

These steps will not remove the nest, but they reduce the number of wasps that come close to people.

If the nest is in a hedge that borders a neighbour’s garden, let them know too, because their children and pets may be at risk as well.

Telling the technician about the children’s routine, for example when they get home from school, lets them plan the visit at a time that suits the household.

Getting the hedge treated

The quickest way to end the worry is to have the nest treated. The Wasp Exterminator charges a fixed £70 per nest and £25 for an extra nest at the same property, with no call-out charge, and the price is confirmed on the phone first. If special access equipment is needed because the nest is difficult to reach, it might be more, and you will know before work begins.

Book on 07798 792 774 or use the booking form. It is open seven days a week with same-day service, and the technician who attends is fully insured and qualified.

Once the technician has been, keep children and pets away until you are told the area is safe. Then you can put the swing, ball and paddling pool back where they belong.

If you have a child with a known allergy, say so when you telephone. It helps the technician plan the visit sensibly, and you should keep any prescribed medicine to hand.

Frequently asked questions

More wasp advice for Barnsley