Oak Processionary Moth Nest Removal
Professional OPM Removal Across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and North London
Oak Processionary Moth (OPM) is now established across Hertfordshire and the surrounding counties, and these invasive caterpillars pose a genuine health risk to people, children and pets. If you have found white silk nests on your oak trees or spotted caterpillars moving in nose-to-tail lines up the trunk and branches, you need a trained professional to remove them safely.
The Blue Tree Company provides specialist OPM nest removal for homeowners, schools, businesses, housing associations and local authorities across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, South Cambridgeshire and North London. Our team are trained in the safe identification, removal and disposal of OPM nests, we carry the specialist PPE and equipment required to do the job without putting anyone at risk.
If you think you have OPM on your property, do not touch the nests or caterpillars. Call us on 01462 450203 or email info@thebluetreecompany.com
Why Is OPM Dangerous?
OPM caterpillars are covered in thousands of tiny hairs that contain a toxic protein called thaumetopoein. These hairs are the real problem. They can become airborne and cause serious reactions in anyone nearby, not just people who touch the nests directly.
Contact with OPM hairs can cause itchy skin rashes and irritation that can last for weeks, painful eye inflammation, sore throats and respiratory difficulties, and in rare cases, severe allergic reactions including anaphylaxis.
The hairs remain toxic long after the caterpillars have gone. Old nests from previous seasons can still cause reactions, which is why removal is important even outside the active caterpillar season (typically May to July).
Children and pets are particularly at risk because nests can form low down on the trunk, sometimes close to ground level. If you manage a school, nursery, park, care home or any site where people spend time near oak trees, OPM should be on your radar.
How to Identify OPM
The nests: White or off-white silk webbing attached to the trunk or underside of branches. They range in size from a golf ball to a rugby ball and may look similar to spiders’ webs. Older nests can turn light brown.
The caterpillars: Grey bodies with dark heads and long white hairs. They travel in distinctive nose-to-tail proce
ssions along the trunk and branches, sometimes in an arrow-shaped formation with a single leader at the front.
The trees: OPM feeds almost exclusively on oak trees. If you have oaks on your property and you are in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, North London or the surrounding areas, your trees could be affected.
Important: Do not attempt to confirm an infestation by getting close to a suspected nest. Even from a short distance, airborne hairs can cause a reaction. If you are unsure, take a photo from a safe distance and send it to us. We can usually confirm whether it is OPM from a photograph.
Our OPM Removal Process
We follow a clear, safety-first process for every OPM job.
1. Assessment We carry out a thorough inspection of your oak trees to confirm the presence of OPM, assess the number and location of nests, and determine the safest approach for removal. We will walk you through what we find and what needs to happen.
2. Safe Removal Our team work in full specialist PPE including respiratory protection, sealed coveralls and eye protection. Nests are carefully removed without disturbing the surrounding hairs more than necessary. We use controlled techniques to minimise the spread of airborne hairs during the process.
3. Disposal All removed nests and contaminated material are sealed, bagged and disposed of as controlled waste in line with current regulations.
4. Advice and Follow-Up We provide straightforward guidance on what to look for going forward, how to reduce the risk of future infestations, and whether ongoing monitoring would be worthwhile for your site. For larger properties, schools and estates, we can set up a seasonal inspection programme.
Who We Work With
OPM does not only affect private gardens. We provide OPM removal services for domestic homeowners who have spotted nests on their oak trees, schools and nurseries where children are at risk of exposure, housing associations and property managers responsible for communal grounds, local authorities and parish councils managing public land, estates, parks and heritage sites with mature oak stock, and commercial sites including office parks, industrial estates and care homes.
If you are responsible for land with oak trees in the affected area, we would be happy to carry out a survey and let you know where you stand.
Areas We Cover for OPM Removal
We provide OPM nest removal services across Hertfordshire, Central Bedfordshire, South Cambridgeshire and North London, including Hitchin, Stevenage, Letchworth, Baldock, Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield, St Albans, Harpenden, Hertford, Ware, Luton, Dunstable, Bedford, Watford, Hemel Hempstead and the North London boroughs.
OPM is spreading outward from London at a rate of several kilometres per year, and Hertfordshire is firmly within the established zone. If you are unsure whether your area is affected, get in touch and we can advise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I remove OPM nests myself? No. The Forestry Commission advises against attempting to remove OPM nests yourself. The toxic hairs pose a real health risk, and disturbing a nest without proper equipment can make the situation worse by releasing hairs into the air. This is a job for trained professionals with the right PPE.
When is OPM season? The caterpillars are most active between May and July, which is when nests are most visible and the health risk is highest. However, old nests can remain on trees for years and the hairs stay toxic, so removal may be needed at any time of year.
How much does OPM removal cost? The cost depends on the number of nests, their location (height, accessibility), and the size of the site. We provide a no-obligation quote after an initial assessment. For a single nest in a garden tree, it is a straightforward job. For larger sites with multiple infested trees, we can scope a full programme.
Is there government funding for OPM removal? The Forestry Commission previously ran a private residents’ grant scheme to help cover removal costs. That scheme closed in January 2026. Removal on private land is now the responsibility of the landowner.
Do I need to report OPM? Yes. The Forestry Commission asks that all OPM sightings are reported via TreeAlert (their online reporting tool) or by emailing opm@forestrycommission.gov.uk. We can help you with this as part of the job.
Will the caterpillars come back? OPM is established in this part of the country and removal of nests does not guarantee they will not return the following year. Regular seasonal inspections are the best way to catch new infestations early before they become a bigger problem.
Why Choose The Blue Tree Company?
We are ARB Approved Contractors, meaning our work meets the highest industry standards. We hold ISO 9001 (Quality), ISO 14001 (Environmental) and ISO 45001 (Health and Safety) certification, along with CHAS accreditation. Our team are qualified arborists with hands-on experience managing OPM across Hertfordshire and London.
We are not a pest control company offering OPM as a sideline. We are specialist tree surgeons who understand oak trees, and we bring that expertise to every OPM job we carry out. From a single nest in a back garden to a seasonal programme across a multi-site estate, we deliver the same standard of care and professionalism.
Get In Touch
If you have spotted OPM nests on your oak trees, or if you want a professional to inspect your trees during the active season, contact us today.
Call us on 01462 450203 or email info@thebluetreecompany.com and we will get back to you.
