UKC

Hey,

I've been hearing a lot about the caterpillars giving people rashes & itching at Swanage and Portland recently. Are they still around? As I heard they only stick around for a short period of time.

Haven't been to Portland in a few weeks however there were hundreds of them at Boulder Ruckle (Swanage) this weekend gone.

Still lots of 'em wriggling around on Portland, I'm afraid. They only give me the faintest of rashes but many people suffer quite badly with them. Unfortunately, over the last few years, they seem to have been around more (milder climate??)

Mick

We were safe in Wallsend at the weekend. Saw lots of nests at the top in the bushes, but nothing down in Wallsend.

TJB.

They should be welcomed as part of the rewilding process ( as long as they are a native species, of course}.

On the 21st of May I was at Wallsend and only saw one or two at the crag. On the walk in there were shedloads though. 

Thanks for the responses all, looks like it's a bit dependant on where you go but I'm getting the feeling most places have them . Might well give the area a miss for a little while yet then.