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and the home counties…
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If you have discovered what looks like a silky white nest on an oak tree in your garden, on your land, or at your commercial premises, you may be dealing with Oak Processionary Moth. This is a serious pest that poses a genuine health risk to people, pets, and animals, and it must only be dealt with by a professional contractor using specialist equipment and full protective clothing.
Essex Tree Brothers provide professional Oak Processionary Moth nest and caterpillar removal services across Essex, including Chelmsford, Great Baddow, and the surrounding areas where OPM is now firmly established. Our team is fully trained, fully insured, and equipped to handle OPM safely and in line with current government and Forestry Commission guidelines.
If you think you have found OPM on your property, do not touch it. Call us straight away for advice and a free consultation.
Oak Processionary Moth, known as OPM, is an invasive pest that originates from southern Europe and was accidentally introduced to the United Kingdom in the early 2000s. It is now established across much of London and the Home Counties, and its range is spreading further into Essex each year.
The moth targets oak trees almost exclusively. Its caterpillars feed on oak leaves in spring and early summer, weakening the tree and leaving it more vulnerable to other pests and diseases. However, it is not the damage to the tree that makes OPM so concerning – it is the serious health risk posed by the caterpillars themselves.
OPM caterpillars carry thousands of tiny, barbed hairs that contain a toxin called thaumetopoein. These hairs are shed from the caterpillars and can remain active in old nests for several years. Contact with the hairs – or even breathing in air near an infested tree – can cause severe reactions in people and animals.
If you’d like to learn more about identifying this invasive pest, including what the caterpillars, nests and adult moths look like, read our guide.
If you’ve spotted unusual caterpillars or silky white nests on an oak tree, don’t take any risks. Read our identification guide to learn what Oak Processionary Moth looks like and what to do next.
Don’t attempt to remove OPM yourself. Contact Essex Tree Brothers for expert advice and a free consultation.
Yes, Oak Processionary Moth is considered a significant public health hazard. The toxic hairs of the caterpillar can cause a range of unpleasant and potentially serious symptoms in humans and animals, including:
Symptoms can be triggered by direct contact with the caterpillars or nests, but also simply by being near an infested tree when the hairs become airborne. Children, elderly people, and anyone with pre-existing respiratory conditions are particularly vulnerable. Pets and livestock are also at risk.
Old nests, even after the caterpillars have left, continue to carry active toxic hairs and remain a health hazard for several years. This is why old nests must also be treated as hazardous and removed professionally.
Oak Processionary Moth should never be handled without the correct training and equipment. Our guide on how to get rid of Oak Processionary Moth in the UK explains the professional removal process and why DIY removal should always be avoided.
OPM caterpillars are active from around April through to July each year. The caterpillars hatch from egg masses laid on oak branches the previous summer and begin feeding on leaves as they develop through several larval stages.
The optimal window for professional nest removal is June through to early August. By this point all larvae have retreated into the nests as pupae, which means the complete generation can be removed in a single treatment before the adult moths emerge and begin breeding again. Removing nests after August has little value as a pest control measure, though removal may still be necessary if old nests continue to pose a health risk to people or animals in the area.
We are an experienced, fully insured arboricultural contractor with a proven track record of delivering professional tree health and pest management services across Essex. Our team is trained in the safe handling and removal of OPM nests and caterpillars, and we use the correct specialist equipment to get the job done properly first time.
With over 350 five star Google reviews and a reputation built on honest, reliable service, we are trusted by homeowners, landlords, schools, commercial businesses, and local authorities across Essex to handle sensitive and hazardous tree work with the care it demands.
Professional removal involves using specialist high-suction vacuum equipment to extract nests, caterpillars, and pupae from affected trees. All material is then disposed of by incineration. This work must only be carried out by a trained professional wearing full PPE. Essex Tree Brothers provide this service across Essex call us to arrange a visit.
Contact with OPM caterpillars, nests, or airborne hairs can cause skin rashes, eye irritation, sore throat, breathing difficulties, and nausea. Symptoms can occur through direct contact or simply by being near an infested tree. If you or anyone in your household experiences these symptoms after being near an oak tree, seek medical advice.
A caterpillar survey, or OPM survey, involves a professional inspection of oak trees on your land to check for the presence of OPM nests, caterpillars, or egg masses. This is particularly recommended in spring and early summer and is useful for commercial landowners, schools, local authorities, and anyone with a number of oak trees on their property. Essex Tree Brothers can carry out OPM surveys across Essex – call us to arrange an inspection.
Yes, Essex Tree Brothers are a fully insured and professionally accredited arboricultural contractor. We carry out all OPM removal work in line with current Forestry Commission and government guidance, using the correct specialist equipment and disposal methods.
If you find OPM in an area where it has not previously been recorded, you should report it to the Forestry Commission using the TreeAlert reporting system at www.treealert.org.uk. Reporting new sightings helps the Forestry Commission track the spread of OPM and respond appropriately in areas outside the established zone.
If you are within an established OPM area such as Chelmsford or Great Baddow, reporting is still encouraged but your primary responsibility is to arrange safe removal of nests on your property.
OPM nest removal must never be attempted by an untrained person. The toxic hairs present in nests and on caterpillars pose a serious health risk, and incorrect handling can spread contamination rather than contain it.
Professional OPM nest removal carried out by Essex Tree Brothers involves:
Full PPE throughout – Our team wear full protective suits, respiratory protection, and eye protection throughout the entire removal process to eliminate the risk of exposure to toxic hairs.
High suction vacuum equipment – We use specialist high-powered vacuum equipment to remove nests, caterpillars, pupae, and loose hairs safely and thoroughly, containing all hazardous material without dispersing it.
Safe disposal by incineration – All collected material is disposed of by incineration in line with current environmental and waste regulations. Nothing is left on site.
Post-removal inspection – Once removal is complete, we carry out a thorough inspection of the tree and surrounding area to ensure no material has been left behind.
Documentation – We provide written records of all works carried out, which is particularly useful for commercial clients, schools, local authorities, and landlords who need to demonstrate compliance with health and safety obligations.
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