Who we help
OPM management for private landowners
Farmland, paddocks and woodland-edge oaks bring their own concerns: horses and livestock, bridleways and footpaths, neighbouring property, and staff or contractors working under trees.
Site pressures
What makes this setting different
Horses and livestock
Horses are particularly vulnerable through the muzzle and mouth. Paddock and field-shelter oaks deserve early attention.
Rights of way
Footpaths and bridleways cross land you manage but people you do not control, so signage and route management matter.
Neighbouring property
Boundary oaks require a conversation before works, and often a shared approach.
Working under trees
Hedge cutting, topping and machinery work beneath affected oaks can generate significant exposure.
Our approach
How OPM management works for private landowners
Scaled to the number of oaks on site and the way people actually use the ground beneath them.
- 01Priority inspection of paddock, yard, bridleway and dwelling-adjacent oaks
- 02Practical exclusion using existing fencing and gate lines where possible
- 03Guidance for staff, grooms and contractors working near affected trees
- 04Boundary tree advice covering ownership and neighbour discussion
- 05Seasonal monitoring proportionate to the number of oaks and level of access
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.
Private Landowners: 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.