Freaking out about OPM on Oak trees near house I'm buying

[Em81angel]

Hi,

I've been scouring mumsnet but can't see any posts on this. We've found a house we really love but next door have 3 huge oak trees along the border of the garden. We are in surrey where OPM (oak processionary moths) have taken hold and last year my DS had a massive reaction to them. I love the house so much but am so worried that the trees could get OPM and make my son ill. AIBU? would you pull out because of this?

What does a “massive reaction” look like in reality?

how far along are you?

Would you own the trees? And could have them cut down if needs be?

What reaction?

They shouldn't be cut down - Check if it's got a tree perseveration on.

Or they could adopt out the son. FFS.

The thing is, there are oak trees everywhere, and the OPM will invade other trees if there are no oaks. You can’t guarantee that you will never be near them again. You can’t guarantee make sure you are alert to them and avoid them, but I think it would be silly not to buy a house just in case there might be an infestation at some point in the future.

Thanks all. My son came out in a full body rash and was unwell and off school for a week. The trees surround his school field too so he is at risk there too I suppose. We are at early stage with offer just accepted. The trees have a TPO so wouldn’t be chopped down. They are in next doors garden. Other than this the house is perfect! So annoying!

Can he take a precautionary antihistamine? Do you have pets,? My parents dog was very ill after coming into contact with them they live in Spain tho so maybe they are worse. I didn't know they were in the UK

Or get a professional company in to deal with the OPM. 🙄

You can put traps on the trunks of the trees to catch the caterpillars as they migrate down, and pheromone traps to catch adult males.
Are there any nests present?

You can report sightings to the Forestry commission and I believe they will sort it out. It’s a known health hazard and I’m pretty sure I’ve seen warning signs about them in the common near where my mum lives.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/managing-oak-processionary-moth-in-england

more research needed - link here to Surrey CC. Check which zone house is in and therefore what treatment is recommended. There are preventative sprays

www.surreycc.gov.uk/culture-and-leisure/countryside/advice/oak-processionary-moth

And what level of interception did he have with the tree to get this rash ie was he climbing it?

interaction

You don't have to touch the tree to have a reaction. The hairs can travel in the wind or be in certain radius near the opm for children to have an allergic reaction. Opm can cause anaphylaxis too. That's why if you get professionals in, they should come fully suited and masked up to deal with it.

It's a tough one OP X

I’d never heard of this before. Those pics on the gov website are slightly eerie.
It’s good that it’s a disease that’s actively fought and owners of oak trees have to take an active role in managing the disease and notifying gov etc, It also sounds like it’s mostly bad for humans (not the tree) between May and July so not all year.

The reaction your son had - was it 100% from OPM? Had he been near them or handled them?

Given the extreme allergic reaction, I'd probably reconsider the purchase. You have to feel comfortable in your home.

I’m in Surrey and the local government do treat the trees with some kind of spray foam, and also label the trees that are affected.
Check if the trees on your new boundary have the nests in them - they are quite obvious from the ground, and ask the owners if anyone is treating theirs if you can see them. As PP have mentioned, you should be able to get the local council or forestry authority to try to eradicate them - the OPM don’t care about TPO’s so if left untreated, the trees may die…

Yes they more than likely have preservation orders on them and cutting them down would be vandalism!

Thanks - I don’t know what interaction he had for the original reaction as it happened from the trees at school which overhang the school fields. I’m going to have another viewing to take a look at the trees and will also check with the new neighbours. In my part of Surrey oak trees are everywhere…so you can’t avoid it but you probably can buy a house not right next door to it! However this truly is an amazing house so it’s a really tough one.

Usually that type if thing doesn't worry me - but not with a DS with an allergy. I would probably just rethink am afraid.

As someone with severe allergies currently sitting here sneezing, nose streaming and trying not to rub my eyes because the skin around them has broken from repeatedly wiping them, I wouldn't. It's not worth it no matter how nice the house. Even if they come out and spray the trees (assuming your prospective neighbour is actually amenable to this), the caterpillars will come back the following year. I know Surrey is leafy but you must be able to find somewhere without oak trees in the immediate vicinity surely?

Knowing you have to be wary of these critters when you're off your own property is one thing. Having to worry about them when in your garden or sitting by an open window is completely another and for that reason, I'd be thinking again, especially with a DC prone to aggressive allergies. At the same time, if OPM are established in the neighbour's trees, surely they'd have noticed them? Apparently you don't need to be very allergic to have a reaction to OPM, as they are quite toxic, plus a heavy infestation would damage the tree.

the trees don’t currently have OPM I’m just worrying about if they do get them… the next door have their kids trampoline and climbing frame set up under the trees!

I don't know if this applies to moths, but wasps don't tend to set up home in an area with humans going about their noisy business. They like somewhere without too much activity. If OPMs are also inclined to a quiet spot, you might be OK. And if not, and OPM move in, I'd be surprised if your neighbours weren't straight on the phone to get the experts to deal with them.