You may be aware that box tree caterpillar is causing significant damage to box hedges and topiary across the UK this year.

They can quickly strip leaves from box plants; leaving hedges brown, sparse and covered in webbing.

What is Bournville Village Trust doing?

• Our Grounds Maintenance teams are monitoring Bournville Village Trust-managed land for signs of infestation and reporting issues to our Estates and Stewardship teams for assessment.
• Each situation is reviewed individually and we consider the condition of plants, effectiveness of treatment options, costs, and the role the planting plays in the landscape.
• In many cases, supporting plants to recover naturally is our preferred approach. Where plants are lost, replacement planting may be considered to maintain the appearance of the area.
• In some circumstances, biological controls may be used in line with industry guidance and best practice.

We do not manage box tree caterpillar infestations on private property or in tenants’ gardens.

For information on our and your responsibilities as a tenant in managing pests and infestations, please go to our reporting a repair page.

What can you do?

Look out for the signs of the caterpillar, which include:

• Leaves being eaten or stripped away.
• Fine webbing inside the plant.
• Green or dark droppings on foliage.
• Brown patches or thinning growth.
• Green and black caterpillars hidden deep within the shrub.

You can get advice on managing the caterpillar in your garden from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) – www.rhs.org.uk/biodiversity/box-tree-caterpillar

Remember if you’re removing or changing your hedge or boundary, you’ll need to check the design guide for your area before doing any work.

You can read all our design guides on our home changes and design guides page.