By the end of 2023 72 asian hornet nests had been confirmed in Britain. This is an enormous increase on previous years but increased awareness and reporting contributed to the total. There were many unconfirmed sightings, including a report from Slebech. As an observation, European hornets seemed to be more abundant in 2023 too. So far in 2024 a dead hornet was found in London, a credible sighting was in Preston at a warehouse handling goods from France. As you start getting you mowers and garden furniture out of the shed, just check there are no hornets waking from their slumber.

Peter Kirkup

Asian Hornet Co-ordinator