Cambridgeshire Live
·25 Aug 2026
I Haven’t Used My Own Garden for Years Due to False Widow Infestation
Danni Virgo, from New Romney in Kent, says repeated bites from false widow spiders have left her traumatised and unable to use her garden or hang washing outside since 2020. After suffering an infected bite from a spider hidden in her pyjamas and two further bites, she estimates that around 100 false widows and their nests are present in her garden. Attempts to control them with peppermint spray, natural oils and anti-spider products have failed. NHS figures cited in the report show that hospital admissions linked to spider bites rose from 47 in 2015 to 100 in 2025, prompting Virgo to warn others to be cautious around the spiders.