Susan Jefferson

Having a bird’s eye view is wonderful, especially when you are spending more time at home, however, if birds actually decide to take up residence on your balcony or terrace you will need to take action. By their nature, balconies and terraces can become a natural attraction to some birds, offering shelter from the elements – and sometimes food too. While for some homeowners feeding the birds and spotting different species close up is a source of joy, this can also attract unwanted, pest birds, particularly pigeons, to visit in larger numbers. When are birds a problem on balconies and terraces? The close proximity that balconies and terraces have to the interior of homes means that any pest birds that may be attracted to them are also closer to your home. Many people will feel uncomfortable being in close proximity to birds and their presence alone can deter people from using their balcony and even make it feel out of bounds. More problematic though are the health risks, mess a...

How to get rid of wasps Wasps are one of the more unwelcome sights of the summer – buzzing menacingly around bins, the doors of your home and patio dining tables. While wasps have an important part to play in nature, they can also be a serious pest owing to their tendency to deliver multiple painful stings. As a result, the sight of wasps buzzing around your home or work premises is very often an unwelcome one - but be prepared as wasp season is due to get underway anytime now. Summer is officially wasp season with increasing numbers becoming apparent from May onwards. While August and September are usually the height of wasp season, wasps will become established from the very start of the warmer months. While wasps are excellent helpers in the fight to control plant-damaging insects for families they are certainly unwelcome in numbers. Plan ahead to avoid problems with wasps If you are concerned about the number of wasps that you are seeing around your home or business – or...

How to get rid of wasps Wasps are one of the more unwelcome sights of the summer – buzzing menacingly around bins, the doors of your home and patio dining tables. While wasps have an important part to play in nature, they can also be a serious pest owing to their tendency to deliver multiple painful stings. As a result, the sight of wasps buzzing around your home or work premises is very often an unwelcome one - but be prepared as wasp season is due to get underway anytime now. Summer is officially wasp season with increasing numbers becoming apparent from May onwards. While August and September are usually the height of wasp season, wasps will become established from the very start of the warmer months. While wasps are excellent helpers in the fight to control plant-damaging insects for families they are certainly unwelcome in numbers. Plan ahead to avoid problems with wasps If you are concerned about the number of wasps that you are seeing around your home or business – or...

The Covid-19 lockdown means that some services which you may have taken for granted before will no longer be easily accessible - and for some problems that will be more of an issue, such as pest control. While staying home, you certainly don’t want to be sharing your space with household pests. Ideally on discovery of an insect invasion you would normally be able to call in a professional pest control service or nip out and pick up a deterrent – which is not so easy under lockdown. There is hope, however, thanks to DIY methods that can help to keep problems such as insect invasions at bay. DIY solutions for ant invasions Ants tend to be a problem that emerges at the start of the summer months – so that could be anytime soon. Once in your home ants can get everywhere and become a real pest. Plenty of homes must be able to sympathise with returning home from holiday in the middle of a hot spell to the horror of ants running riot in kitchen cupboards and across worktops. The good ...

One positive about staying safe indoors during the Covid-19 lockdown is the chance to take time for the little things, such as watching the return of migrant birds in summer. In fact, finding the joy in the little things will quite often make all the difference to the way you feel and watching the returning birds is something that most people can enjoy doing at no extra cost. It will also be another way to help keep children entertained – and can help to boost their understanding of the natural world. From the start of April many favourite species of birds make their way back to the UK to enjoy the summer months here. Which birds migrate from England over winter? The RSPB estimates that as many as 40 per cent of the world’s birds migrate. In the United Kingdom we see birds that migrate here for a milder winter, as well as birds that breed here in spring then migrate south in autumn. These southern migrants returning for the spring will be the ones to look out for over the coming...

As the natural world wakes up from winter, spring brings an increase in activities – including for pest birds. Having spent the winter keeping warm and looking for food, spring will mark a new season of activity for many bird species. Of primary importance when it comes to bird control in the UK is that spring is the time when birds will start to lay down roots, which could cause trouble down the line. Spring signals the start of the main nesting season for most birds – and even for those that breed throughout the year spring is still the most active time. Bird Control UK Pest birds nesting in spring The problem with birds nesting is that if a pest bird species decides to nest at your property you can expect them to remain there. Once birds such as pigeons or seagulls have found a protected spot to nest in, with a nearby supply of food, they will have little reason to move – and their numbers can quickly grow. While birds nesting on your property many not a at first thought seem a majo...

As the natural world wakes up from winter, spring brings an increase in activities – including for pest birds. Having spent the winter keeping warm and looking for food, spring will mark a new season of activity for many bird species. Of primary importance when it comes to bird control in the UK is that spring is the time when birds will start to lay down roots, which could cause trouble down the line. Spring signals the start of the main nesting season for most birds – and even for those that breed throughout the year spring is still the most active time. Pest birds nesting in spring The problem with birds nesting is that if a pest bird species decides to nest at your property you can expect them to remain there. Once birds such as pigeons or seagulls have found a protected spot to nest in, with a nearby supply of food, they will have little reason to move – and their numbers can quickly grow. While birds nesting on your property many not a at first thought seem a major probl...

There are times in the year when the threat of being invaded by bugs seems so ever-present it can leave us wishing for a change in the weather. Pest control services in Birmingham are in demand throughout the year but seasonal changes can dictate which unwanted visitors are making their way indoors. Not surprisingly the weather has a major impact on insects and rodents that we hope would make their home outdoors, rather than in our home or business. How do the seasons affect pest services in Birmingham? At any point in the year there is a chance you could find a pest in your home and need pest services in Birmingham but different weather brings different visitors. Summer The heat is a magnet for many insects and on your travels abroad you will have no doubt witnessed how some larger insects thrive in the sunshine. Thanks to the Great British climate cockroaches and mosquitoes are far less prevalent in this country. However, even milder summers can lead to calls for pest servi...

Seagulls are a year-round problem for many communities but in the nesting season these problems can appear magnified. As the peak nesting season approaches, it might be time to consider installing an anti-roosting system for seagulls to minimise the impact the birds will have on your home or business. Already with a reputation for being noisy and aggressive, the nesting season, which runs through the months of April, May, June and July, can see these issues intensify. As large birds, seagulls can be intimidating and, with their often-reported habit of swooping down to steal food from unwitting passers-by, an increase in aggression will only make this worse. Seagull control in the form of an anti-roosting system is one way to take pre-emptive action against this. The first step in reducing a seagull control problem is by keeping them off your property in the first place. Once they have found a good place to roost with a nearby food supply, seagulls will remain there. How an anti-r...

Fair weather fiends or winter woes? How the weather might affect your need for Pest Services in Birmingham   There are times in the year when the threat of been invaded by bugs seems so ever-present it can leave us wishing for a change in the weather.    Pest control services in Birmingham are in demand throughout the year but seasonal changes can dictate, which unwanted visitors are making their way indoors.    Not surprisingly the weather has a major impact on insects and rodents that we hope would make their home outdoors rather than in the dark corners of our home or business.    How do the season s  affect pest services in Birmingham?   At any point in the year there is a chance you could find a pest in your home and need p est ser vices in Birm i ngham  but different weather brings different visitors.    Summer   The heat is a magnet for many insects and you travels further afield will have no doubt revealed how some larger insects thrive in the sunshine. Thanks to the G...

As the name suggests cluster flies are a problem due to their preference to gather in large numbers – but what do you do if they move into your home or business?   Cluster flies in themselves are not harmful to humans, so wh i le the thought of these insects making themselves at home in your house  or business  may be  unpleasant  they will not actually cause you any ill effects.    Looking like a normal housefly ,  expect for some tell-tale yellow hairs ,  cluster flies are slow mover s  that will fly languidly around your house and gather at the windows.    The main way in which they differ from other flying pests is that they are a problem in winter.   As heat - seekers  cluster flies  will appear on the side of homes or at windows as they aim to bask in the warm rays of the sun.    From here they will quite often head into the att ic  – or even the walls of your house or business – as they look for a warm place to rest  and hibernate before waking up in spring .   Why ...

Over the past 10 years the problem with seagulls appears to have increased as these large birds get ever more confident.    In particular the last few years have  seen  an escalation of the problem  with the need for  bird control  to take action becoming increasingly evident.    Has the seagull problem got worse?   T he number of seagulls  defined as ‘herring gulls’  are actually  in decline, so much so that the species is  red listed  in terms of being endangered. This may seem  at odds if you live in an area that has seen an increased problem with seagulls.    However while the traditional coastal population of seagulls has plummeted  the   number of urban gulls has  risen   sharply  leading to  greater concerns about their impact in towns and cities.  Often the reason for the growth in urban gulls is attributed to the availability of waste food for these opportunistic scavengers , along with plentiful warm, sheltered areas to roost in.    Why are seagulls a pest bird?  ...

TVs are getting bigger – there’s no escaping it, and in many cases there is no escaping the fact that the mega-sized TV that has caught your eye won’t fit in the corner of the room. It is not just interior design trends that have led to the popularity of wall-mounted TVs in London but the need for adequate space to house these technological wonders. Choosing where to put a TV could make all the difference to your viewing pleasure and with size now very much equating to the techie clout of your TV, wall mounting could be the way forward for your London home. Why choose a bigger screen? Large TV screens are not everyone’s cup of tea, but more than just a style statement, large TVs now usually translate to an improved viewing experience as the developments in technology kick in at different screen sizes. While you may not actually want a larger TV screen, the fact that 4k Ultra HD is generally only recommended on screens of 40 inches and up could make a difference to your choice. Then bea...

Solar panels can be an excellent investment into your home but be  a ware  of  the need for bird proofing to help protect your investment.    Solar panels have grown   rapidly  in popularity over recent years and are a common sight on homes and commercial buildings –  but  they are also popular with the bird population.    As people become more aware of the need to make greener choices that will help to reduce the impact of our lives on the environment ,  solutions such as solar panels are becoming more popular.   Solar panels allow the home owner or business owner to benefit from a clean, free, readily available energy  source  that will ultimately save them money.    However, adding solar panels to your home costs money with the initial outlay often adding up to several thousands of pounds. Throughout the coming years this initial outlay will be offset  but   t he solar panels need to be kept in good condition.       While trees blocking the path of the sun to the panels can be one p...

As a countr y the UK can generally regard itself as lucky when considering the  pests  we have to deal with but that doesn’t mean you can be complacent  – you never know   when you  may  need the help of pest services in Birmingham !   As frustrating as it can be ,  the Great British weather is helpful in keeping dangerous pests at bay with many preferring a warmer climate.    But there are still plenty of  pests  looking out for a warm home that could make their way into your ho us e if you are not careful.    While any creepy crawly is unwelcome in great numbers there are a few pests you  definitely would  not want to share your home with – and some that could pre s ent a health hazard.    Thankfully with the help of pest services in Birmingham ,  infestations caught early and treated properly can quickly  halt  a pest problem.    Mainly attracted by  warmth and a food source there are  a number of  different species that can become problem pests in Birmingham and across the UK.    M...

As a countr y the UK can generally regard itself as lucky when considering the  pests  we have to deal with but that doesn’t mean you can be complacent  – you never know   when you  may  need the help of pest services in Birmingham !   As frustrating as it can be ,  the Great British weather is helpful in keeping dangerous pests at bay with many preferring a warmer climate.    But there are still plenty of  pests  looking out for a warm home that could make their way into your ho us e if you are not careful.    While any creepy crawly is unwelcome in great numbers there are a few pests you  definitely would  not want to share your home with – and some that could pre s ent a health hazard.    Thankfully with the help of pest services in Birmingham ,  infestations caught early and treated properly can quickly  halt  a pest problem.    Mainly attracted by  warmth and a food source there are  a number of  different species that can become problem pests in Birmingham and across th...

Unwanted critters can be a real problem if they make their home in your property but following a few simple rules can help to establish efficient pest control in Birmingham. Keep bins secure Rubbish bins invariably contain lots of discarded food, including meat. Sealed with a lid this should be no problem in regard to pest control in Birmingham. However open and overflowing bins outside your home will act as an open invitation to rodents looking for a warm, sheltered home with a ready supply of food. Monitor compost Compost is an economical and environmentally-friendly way to deal with food waste. Managed carefully this is an excellent way to feed your garden. However to make sure rodents don’t make their home in your compost ensure the unit is secure and food scraps are not dropped on the floor nearby. Be careful feeding birds Pest control in Birmingham is familiar with urban problems that can encourage rodents – and one that people may underestimate is birdfeed being knocked to t...

A Wythall business with a personal connection to a World War Two tragedy has been leading efforts to create a lasting memorial to the young servicemen who lost their lives on its land nearly 80 years ago. The unveiling will take place on October 2 nd at Highfield Farm, marking an event forever etched in the minds of those who experienced it. It’s early in the morning of January 9 th , 1942 and a Wellington bomber is limping home following a daring raid over Nazi-occupied France. On board are six crew. Engine failure forces the pilot to think quickly and he chooses RAF Wythall for an emergency landing, possibly unaware that the base, home to a barrage balloon command, has no runway He steers past the village, narrowly avoids power cables and crash lands in a field, where his wing strikes an oak tree. The plane spins violently, breaks up and is engulfed in flames. The lights in Highfield Farm are already on. Ten year old schoolboy John Nash has witnessed the crash and runs to a te...

The cooler months are upon us but it is not just your family that will be seeking shelter and warmth inside this winter, pests will also have their eyes on your Birmingham home. A warm place to live, food to snack on and shelter from the rain – sounds appealing, well it certainly is for some common Birmingham pests! Most domestic pests are domestic pests for a reason; they prefer to live inside than outside when the opportunity arises. Have you given any thought to the number of spiders you have returned to the wilds of the garden only to discover another one twice the size nestled happily behind the sofa? And while many of the pests you are likely to find in your Birmingham home are not dangerous, wanting to share your home with them is another issue. Avoiding pests in your Birmingham home So what should you do to avoid the seasonal deluge of creepy crawlies? Prevention is always better than cause and the start of autumn is a great time to get your house in order. The place to ...

Job Description and Duties Report to the Office Manager on a daily basis.  A strong knowledge of Excel and the ability to produce, amend and populate Excelspreadsheets. Help to answer the phones in the office and deal with the incoming sales enquiries. Record the information of the relevant excel enquiry log and distribute to the relevant Surveyor. Keep accurate records of all sales information. Keep in regular contact with the sales team for updates on leads, terminated contracts, and potential new business. Update the office sales board with sales figures and leads and produce a weekly email to send to all staff with updates. Ensure all paperwork is submitted with the relevant purchase orders and has been correctly signed to ensure we receive payment. Attend monthly Sales Meetings and take minutes which will need to be distributed to all in attendance. Record actions from these meetings and ensure they are carried out correctly and within the set timescales. Keep accurate record...