Oak Processionary Moth (Awareness and Removal)

Oak Processionary Moth (OPM), along with Brown Tail Moth (BTM) and Pine Processionary Moth (PPM), is becoming increasingly prevalent in parts of the UK. These species present serious risks to human health, animals, and the wider environment due to the urticating hairs released during their lifecycle.

This course equips land managers, maintenance teams, and health and safety professionals with the knowledge required to identify processionary moth species accurately and respond appropriately when they are encountered. It focuses on understanding lifecycle stages, recognising hazardous conditions, and applying proportionate control measures in line with legal and biosecurity requirements.

Training emphasises early identification, risk-based decision-making, and safe site management, helping organisations meet their duty of care while minimising the risk of exposure, spread, and unnecessary intervention.

Key benefits

• Identify processionary moth species and nests at different lifecycle stages

• Reduce health risks through informed, proportionate response

• Understand legal duties relating to reporting, control, and biosecurity

• Apply practical site-based measures to limit spread and exposure

• Support safe decision-making when managing trees in public or sensitive locations

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

• Identify oak processionary moth, brown tail moth, and pine processionary moth in the field

• Understand lifecycle stages, associated hazards, and routes of exposure

• Recognise situations that require reporting, restriction, or specialist intervention

• Apply risk-based response procedures when moths or nests are found

• Implement appropriate health, safety, and biosecurity controls

• Plan monitoring and longer-term management strategies where relevant

Who should attend

This course is suitable for:

• Arborists, grounds staff, and forestry operatives

• Land and estate managers

• Site managers and health and safety professionals

• Anyone responsible for managing trees in public-facing or environmentally sensitive spaces