Pest Control Childsbridge

Pest Control in Childsbridge

Childsbridge is a small area near Seal and Kemsing in the Kent countryside, sitting on the lower slopes of the North Downs between Sevenoaks and Borough Green. The houses are spread among farmland and orchards, with the wooded Downs rising behind and the Darent valley not far away. This transitional landscape between the flat low ground and the steep chalk hills creates conditions where different pests thrive at different points. On the lower ground, where the soil is heavier and the ditches and streams drain towards the valley, rats are the main concern. They use the watercourses and hedgerows as cover and food sources and rat control at properties near the field boundaries or streams is something we carry out regularly.

Higher up, where the chalk and Greensand soils are lighter, ground-nesting wasps are more common. These lighter soils are easier for wasps to excavate and nests in garden lawns, banks and the sides of footpaths are a regular summer issue. The sheltered gardens along the base of the Downs warm up quickly in spring and see early wasp activity that can catch people by surprise.

Mice move between the fields and the houses throughout autumn and winter and the older properties around Childsbridge are the most likely to have the gaps they need. Mouse proofing these buildings takes care, especially where the traditional Kent construction needs to be respected. Steel wool and cement in the gaps around ground-level pipes and air bricks is usually the most effective approach. The woodland on the Downs supports squirrels that occasionally get into roof spaces from overhanging branches and we deal with these promptly to prevent damage to wiring and insulation.