UKC

Anyone know what the situation is this year with these little b£s(@rds?

Had to google them. They sound seriously nasty.

I got very sick last time I was there. It took a few days to work out what it was. I'd like to go back but not if there's still a problem.

Can someone explain what this about please?

If it's the same critters at we see in the Herault, it is Pine Processionary Moth Caterpillars. If you get too close, they eject needles which often cause a severe allergic reaction (worse than the Portland caterpillars). If a dog or cat sniffs/licks them, they will need immediate veterinary care.

Easy to spot as they move around in procession (nose to tail) on trees and on the ground. Their nests are fluffy beige clusters at the end of branches on pine trees (sometimes apple trees too, apparently). They move around from late March to April.

We've cut down a few pine trees in our garden for this reason (we have a dog and a cat). 

Thank you. I wondered if that was it. Since all the things that came up with a google search were in French I decided the word tarn referred to the French river and not our Lakeland water features.

sorry to hear about your trees.