For most, the bite from a noble false widow, is nothing more than a short-lived, nuisance, rather like a bee or wasp sting. For a very few people, a bite might develop into something more serious. A study in Ireland of confirmed false widow bites found that some required hospitalisation but this should not be cause for panic. Amongst the scaremongering we should always remember that spider bites are incredibly rare in the UK. The vast majority of us will never get bitten by a spider, and of those few that do, the vast majority will experience only very minor effects.

Are UK spiders dangerous? An interview with the British Arachnologist Society Gardener's will have a lot of hands on experience when it comes to UK spiders - but are any of these species of UK spiders dangerous? The species can grow up to a foot wide - and its bite can cause heart palpitations and vomiting Credit: Getty The great fox-spider likes warmer climates and is more common on the European mainland, particularly on coastal sand dunes in Holland and Denmark.

They eat a mixture of insects, lizards, mice and occasionally small birds. Where am I most likely to find a giant spider in my house? The great fox-spider is one of the largest members of the wolf-spider family, hunting spiders that do not use webs to catch prey. It chases down beetles, ants and smaller spiders before pouncing on them and injecting deadly venom. The prey is immobilised and its internal organs liquefy. The spider – which poses no risk to humans – feeds using fang-bearing jaws. Some of the most common places in which you can find a giant spider in your house are behind the fireplace, under the sofa or in the bath.

They are popular pets as they have large bodies, are considered to be docile and are easy to breed. Habitat: Under stones and logs with its main prey items – woodlice. Sometimes indoors, in porches or garages. Mouthparts shining pink, with long red fangs necessary to puncture tough crustacean shells. Can deliver painful nip if handled incautiously. When it's a good summer, but not bone dry, it's good for a lot of insects, which is the garden spider's main food. Hine explains, 'In years like this more of them reach their maximum size and there's enough food to support more of them.' However, the turn to colder and wetter weather will stop insects flying and stop the garden spiders feeding. False widow spiders Some of the non-web-builders have fascinating behaviours. In the nurseryweb spider ( Pisaura mirabilis), for example, mature males catch a fly before courting. They wrap it in silk and offer it to a prospective partner – a ‘nuptial gift’. While the female is engaged in eating the gift, the male takes the opportunity to mate.They can be found in homes all year round with males living up to two years and females can live up to three years. Spider sightings always peak in the autumn when the males of many species reach adulthood and wander about looking for females, he says.

Every issue, The English Garden magazine features the most beautiful gardens from all across the UK and Ireland - both town and country plots, big and small. Inside, you will find invaluable practical advice from real gardeners, plantspeople and designers. There’s stunning photography from the world’s top garden photographers, as well as insightful writing from experts. Gardeners, whether pleased about it or not, will have a lot of hands-on experience when it comes to UK spiders – but are UK spiders dangerous? The venom from most of the handful of UK species that can bite is less concerning than the puncture wound the bite causes. Fangs can introduce bacteria into the tiny wounds they create, so if you suspect you have been bitten by a spider it is best to clean the wound and use a local antiseptic treatment. Just as with a wasp or bee sting, antihistamines may help with the swelling and itching but if symptoms do not improve, get worse or develop into other symptoms then it is sensible to seek medical attention. Rarely, some people may be allergic to spider venom, with similar symptoms developing as with a bee or wasp sting allergy.Up-to-date distribution maps, and charts showing adult seasonality Introductory chapters on the biology of spiders, and where, when and how to find them, including equipment needed in the field One spider that benefits from good summer weather is the European garden spider, Araneus diadematus, also known as the garden orb-weaver or cross spider. People often spot the females sitting in the middle of their large webs in gardens or across doors and windows.