Why Lyme disease could be coming to a park near you

🌿 Key Insights on Lyme Disease in Urban Areas

“Ticks can be more common in some of our cities’ urban green spaces than people perhaps realise,” said Dr Sara Gandy, a researcher at the University of Glasgow.

1. Traditional vs. Emerging Risk

Traditional view: Lyme disease is mainly a countryside risk, especially in wooded areas and long grass.
New evidence: Infected ticks are also being found in urban parks* across UK cities, including Inverness, Perth, Falkirk, Dunfermline, Scarborough, Bath, Salisbury, Southampton, and London.

“When you’re just going to walk your dog in your local park by your house, you might not think about ticks. But it’s still good to check.”

Even in these regions, people are generally thought to be at risk only if they are walking in wooded areas or places with long grass. That needs a rethink, said Dr Gandy.

Her team found ticks infected with Lyme in parks in five of the 16 cities that they investigated (*Inverness, Perth, Falkirk, Dunfermline, and Scarborough). Previous studies have shown they are present in Bath, Salisbury, Southampton, and London.

They also found that the presence of Lyme in city parks was more likely if there was more woodland directly surrounding the cities. The study was published in the journal Nature Cities.

2. Transmission & Symptoms

Carriers: Ticks, deer, sheep, small mammals (especially squirrels), and birds.
Symptoms:
- Early: “bulls-eye” rash (not always present), flu-like illness.
- Later: joint pain, fatigue, neurological and cardiac complications if untreated.

Flu that never ended

Julia Knight, who works for the patient charity Lyme Disease UK, was bitten by a tick 15 years ago, while holidaying at a Centre Parcs holiday in Thetford Forest, Norfolk. “After about a month, I started feeling really unwell – sort of fluey, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.”

At first, her doctor suspected a brain tumour. Knight ended up being diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome and quit her job.

At the time, British doctors were less aware of Lyme disease. It was not until years later that a US doctor recommended she get tested for Lyme, which gave a positive result.

A three-week course of antibiotics led to gradual improvement in her health. She is now almost back to normal, but there is still a slight neurological impairment that affects her concentration.

3. Wildlife Factors

Deer & Sheep (Ixodes ricinus): Support large tick populations, but are immune to Lyme.
Grey squirrels: Emerging as a major reservoir, second only to deer in feeding ticks. They may help spread Lyme into city parks.

Emerging risk from grey squirrels

Another assumption that may be wrong is whether large numbers of deer need to be in an area for Lyme disease to be present. We may have been overlooking the risk from grey squirrels, said Professor Steven Belmain, an ecologist at the University of Greenwich.

Deer contribute to high levels of bacteria, because they are so large that they can support lots of ticks feeding on them. But deer are also immune to Lyme disease. So, a person can only catch Lyme if they are bitten by a tick that has just fed on a small mammal like a squirrel. “It’s the small mammals and birds that are responsible for Lyme disease transmission,” said Professor Belmain.

His team has found that after deer, squirrels are the second biggest food source for ticks. They are carrying out a study to see if the levels of Lyme bacteria in an area can be reduced by giving grey squirrels bait laced with oral contraception.

4. Environmental Drivers

Climate change: Warmer winters may help ticks survive longer.
Rewilding campaigns: Initiatives like “No Mow May” and wildflower meadows create habitats where ticks thrive.
Urban woodland proximity: Cities surrounded by woodland show higher tick presence.

5. Public Health Context

UK cases in 2024: UKHSA reported 1,581 cases confirmed annually, though underreporting is suspected.
GP guidance: Antibiotics should be prescribed immediately if a bull’s-eye rash is present, without waiting for test confirmation.

6. Prevention Advice

Use insect repellent outdoors.
Tuck trousers into socks.
Avoid long grass and overgrown shrubbery.
Always check your body for ticks after spending time outside.

⚖️ Why This Matters

The above challenges the assumption that Lyme disease is only a rural issue. With rewilding and climate change, urban parks are becoming hotspots, meaning everyday activities like forest schools, dog walking, or picnicking may carry hidden risks. Awareness and prevention are key.

✅ Tick Awareness & Safe Removal in Outdoor First Aid

Forestry England, Outdoor Sports National Governing Bodies, and many other organisations emphasise the importance of safe and correct tick removal as a core skill within Outdoor First Aid training. Because it is impossible to know whether a tick is carrying Lyme disease, every bite must be treated as potentially infectious, requiring prompt and proper removal.

At Remote First Aid, our courses provide practical training in the use of tick removal tools. These tools are an essential component of any outdoor leader’s or enthusiast’s first aid kit, and should be standard equipment for:

🌲 Forest School Practitioners
🏞️ Outdoor Educators
🚶 Expedition Leaders and Enthusiasts
🐕 Community members using UK town and city parks

By embedding tick‑removal skills into first aid practice, we ensure that outdoor professionals and participants are prepared to respond effectively, reducing the risk of infection and supporting safe engagement with nature.

🌱 Outdoor First Aid Training with Remote First Aid

Remote First Aid delivers accredited Outdoor First Aid programmes tailored for:

🏫 Schools and Colleges

🌲 Forest School Practitioners

🎓 Outdoor Educators and Leaders

🏞️ Outdoor Enthusiasts – ensuring personal safety during recreational activities

✂️ Pet Groomers – protecting animals and owners from tick‑borne infections

🐿️ Wildlife Biologists – supporting fieldwork with practical tick‑handling skills

Our courses equip participants with the essential skills to manage incidents in outdoor environments, including safe tick removal, casualty care in remote settings, and practical techniques aligned with national governing body requirements.

By combining technical first aid expertise with scenario‑based learning, we ensure that educators, leaders, and practitioners are confident, compliant, and prepared to safeguard wellbeing in both rural and urban green spaces.