What Should You Do If You Find an Active Wasp Nest in Great Shelford?

An active wasp nest at a family home is mostly a safety problem, and the first answer is to put distance between the nest and the people who use that part of the house or garden. In Great Shelford, where many homes are larger family houses with deep gardens, loft space and garages, there is usually somewhere to retreat to while the nest is dealt with.

Protecting the Household

• Children: move play away from the area, and explain not to throw things at the nest or stand near it to look.
• Pets: dogs in particular are inquisitive and can be stung around the face. Keep them indoors or on a lead away from the entrance.
• Anyone with a known sting allergy: keep them indoors and make sure any prescribed adrenaline pen is to hand and in date.
• Visitors and tradespeople: warn them before they walk round to the back of the house.

If Someone Is Stung

1. Move away from the nest first.
2. If a sting is visible in the skin, scrape it out sideways with a fingernail or card. Wasp stings often leave no sting behind, but bees do.
3. Wash the area with soap and water and hold a cold pack on it.
4. Watch for the next half hour or so.

Where Family Homes Tend to Have Them

Larger houses mean more places to nest. We see activity in roof spaces, under the eaves, in wall air bricks, in garages and garden rooms, and in hedges and trees at the end of the garden. If the nest is high up on a gable or dormer, you will see only the wasps' flight line. That is enough.

What Not to Do

Do not try to reach it with a ladder, a hosepipe or a spray can. Do not seal the hole. Do not leave a window open on that side to see what happens. Wasps blocked in the nest tend to look for another exit, and if that is inside the house you then have a very different problem.

Getting It Treated

The treatment is an insecticidal dust applied at the entrance. Wasps carry it into the colony, so you do not need anyone to reach the nest itself. Activity can increase briefly and then drops over a day or two. The price is £90 fixed, with no call-out fee, and is confirmed before booking. The Great Shelford page has more on the service, and the cost guide covers what the price includes.

Planning the Day

With a busy Great Shelford household it is worth choosing a time when the school run and the commute are done, so the garden or side passage can be cleared. Tell the technician about any gates, side access or dogs, and they will plan the visit around it.

When you ring 01223 902388 or message on WhatsApp, mention anyone with an allergy so the visit can be planned around the family.