Who we help
OPM advice for homeowners
For most households the questions are simple: is this OPM, is my family at risk, and who do I tell? You do not need to do anything technical, and you should not attempt removal.
Site pressures
What makes this setting different
Children and pets
Keep play, paddling pools, trampolines and dog runs away from beneath the canopy while activity is present.
Laundry and furniture
Hairs settle. Bring in washing, cushions and toys from beneath or near the tree.
Garden work
Avoid mowing, strimming, hedge-cutting or pressure-washing under the tree until it has been assessed.
Whose tree is it?
If the oak is next door's or the council's, your role is to report it and keep your own family clear.
Our approach
How OPM management works for homeowners
Scaled to the number of oaks on site and the way people actually use the ground beneath them.
- 01Photograph from a distance and send it for an initial visual opinion
- 02Report the suspected sighting through TreeAlert
- 03Keep the area beneath the tree clear of children, pets and laundry
- 04Speak to the tree owner if it is a boundary, neighbouring or council tree
- 05Arrange professional assessment if the tree is yours and the nest is over used space
The framework
The seven-step management framework
The same structure applies across sectors; the emphasis and timing change.
- Step 1
Oak Tree Inventory
Establish what you actually have: every oak, its location, approximate size and the ground use beneath it.
- Step 2
Baseline OPM Survey
A first full inspection across the inventory, recording activity, nests and feeding damage tree by tree.
- Step 3
Risk Classification
Rank trees by exposure and observed activity so attention concentrates where people and trees meet.
- Step 4
Seasonal Monitoring
Repeat inspection at the life-cycle stages that matter, with findings recorded against the same tree records.
- Step 5
Intervention Where Required
Act where exposure justifies it — exclusion, nest management or professional removal — not everywhere by default.
- Step 6
Documentation
Keep a defensible record of what was inspected, what was found, what was decided and who was informed.
- Step 7
Annual Review
Review the season, adjust priority trees and inspection timing, and carry the record forward.
Next steps
Identification and official reporting
Not sure what you've found?
Ask an OPM Expert
Send clear photographs of the tree, the caterpillars or the suspected nest and our team will give you an initial visual opinion to help you understand your next steps.
Photo identification is preliminary and may not always be conclusive. A professional site inspection or official confirmation may be required.
Think it may be OPM?
Report Suspected OPM
Suspected Oak Processionary Moth sightings should be reported through TreeAlert, the official tree pest and disease reporting service. This is an external official service and opens in a new tab.
Sending us photographs does not replace official TreeAlert reporting.
Homeowners: common questions
Supported by
OPM Advice & Management UK is supported by Hertfordshire Pest Control, who provide the professional inspection, monitoring and nest management capability behind the advice on this site.
OPM Advice & Management UK is an independent information resource and is not part of, affiliated with or endorsed by Defra, the Forestry Commission, Forest Research or any local authority. Official organisations and resources are referenced to help visitors access authoritative information. Suspected OPM sightings should be reported through the appropriate official reporting channels.