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Lyme Disease

It's important to be tick aware when enjoying the wonderful woodlands, grasslands and countryside that English Heritage has to offer.

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that can be spread to humans by ticks.

Only a small number of ticks are infected with the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. Although most tick bites are harmless, it's important to be aware of ticks and remove them safely to mitigate the risk of Lyme disease.

Ticks are present all over the UK, but are often found in grassy and wooded areas. Therefore, it's worth being vigilant when visiting this type of natural environment.

Be tick aware

Maintaining 'tick awareness' and taking simple steps to prevent tick bites are the best ways of minimising the risk of Lyme disease.

You may wish to take the following precautions:

  • Minimise the amount of skin you expose when walking in grassy areas by wearing long trousers and long-sleeved tops for example;
  • Use an insect repellent to reduce the risk of receiving a tick bite;
  • Wear light coloured clothing so that ticks can be easily spotted and brushed off;
  • Always check yourself and your family for ticks following a walk

Visit the NHS Choices and Public Health England websites for more information on ticks and Lyme disease.

Monitoring our sites

We are proud to host millions of visitors at our sites so they can enjoy and be inspired by England's diverse heritage. We take the responsibilities of our different roles very seriously and regularly conduct risk assessments at all of our sites, taking necessary measures to minimise risks.

If you have been bitten by a tick and are concerned please visit a healthcare professional. To report a tick bite after visiting one of our sites, please contact us. Reporting incidents helps us to monitor the situation so that we can continue to evaluate any risks that may be present at each of our sites.