I have checked around my property and can see numerous scaffold type webs especially on window frames. My neighbours have also got the same webs on their windows. I have also seen a few of the garden spiders you mentioned. I experienced an outbreak in both the Bletchley area where I worked and in Leighton Buzzard where I lived last October. This was reported in the local papers at the time and were confirmed as Steotoda Nobilis. I did bring one with me when I moved in October, it was in my garden furniture, there were also egg sacks which I collected, no one seemed interested so I destroyed them. A year on and they are back, this time in very large numbers. Although I appreciate that they may not attack humans intentionally I don't really want to take the risk with small children. I feel responsible for bringing them to the area to be honest, but there's only so much checking you can do. Environmental Health Pest Control for the local council are not interested and don't see the point in calling pest control as the whole estate would have to be done at the same time, which I can't see happening. Are there any kind of deterrents I could put in place that you know of? I am open if anyone would like to come and collect specimens. There are adults both male and female of varying sizes and juveniles. My postcode for the records is: CV114XY Thanks for taking the time to educate me more on the species, it is very much appreciated.
Regards
Steve