The Asian hornet (Vespa velutina) is a species of hornet which is not native to the UK. It is smaller than our native hornet and poses no greater risk to human health than other hornets or bees.

However, they do pose a risk to honey bees and pollinating insects. This is why we are keen to stop this insect establishing in the UK, and why you should report suspected sightings.

When a sighting is confirmed, experts from the National Bee Unit (NBU) and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) will work quickly to find and destroy any active nests in the area.

Current situation

To date, there have been 13 confirmed sightings of the Asian hornet in England and six nests have been destroyed.

Nine of these sightings occurred in 2018; an individual hornet in Lancashire (April) and Hull, three in Cornwall, two in Hampshire, one in Surrey (all September) and the latest in Kent (October).

It is crucial you report any possible sightings so our experts can take quick and effective action to eradicate Asian hornets.

Nicola Spence, Chief Plant Health Officer, said:

By ensuring we are alerted to possible sightings as early as possible, we can take swift and effective action to stamp out the threat posed by Asian hornets.

While the Asian hornet poses no greater risk to human health than a bee, we recognise the damage they can cause to honey bee colonies and other beneficial insects.

Please continue to look out for any Asian hornets and if you think you’ve spotted one, report your sighting through the Asian hornet app or online.

How to spot an Asian hornet

Asian hornets:

• have a dark brown or black velvety body
• have a yellow or orange band on fourth segment of abdomen
• have yellow tipped legs
• are smaller than the native European hornet
• are not active at night

Guidance on how to identify an Asian hornet.

How to report an Asian hornet

If you suspect you have seen an Asian hornet you should report this using the ‘Asian Hornet Watch’ app:

• Asian Hornet Watch app for iPhone
• Asian Hornet Watch app for android

You can also report sightings by email: alertnonnative@ceh.ac.uk. Please include information on location, date and number of Asian hornets you have seen. Please also include a photo if you can to help our experts identify the insect.

Alternatively, you can fill out an online report form

If you find a nest, don’t try to remove it yourself – it can be dangerous and should only be done by experts.

What to do if you keep bees

If you keep bees, you should:

Read our guidance on the Asian Hornet

• Asian hornet information pages of BeeBase

• Asian hornet ID sheet

• Asian hornet poster

• ‘How to obtain a sample’ guidance

Monitor for its arrival

Use monitoring traps in your apiaries. Watch our video on how to make a monitoring trap:

Watch our video on how to make a monitoring trap

Ensure your BeeBase records are up to date with apiary locations

We encourage you to update your apiary records online and record if you have set Asian Hornet traps.

• Guidance on how to update your records.

Report any suspect sightings

If you suspect you have seen an Asian hornet you should report this using the iPhone and Android app ‘Asian Hornet Watch’, by filling out an online report form or by emailing alertnonnative@ceh.ac.uk.

Visiting countries where Asian hornet is widespread

The Asian hornet is native to China but arrived in Europe in 2004 and is now widespread in parts of France, Spain, the Channel Islands and Portugal.

It presents no greater risk to human health than a bee so there is no need for you to take extra precautions in these countries.

However, there have been cases where Asian hornets have been found in bags or camping equipment of travellers returning from those countries, particularly in spring and late autumn.

Before returning to the UK you should check your luggage, especially if it’s been kept outside during your trip. If you do spot an Asian hornet on your return to the UK you should report it with the dates and places you went on holiday, and ideally a photo of the insect.

Recent confirmed sightings and announcements

*Dungeness, Kent – confirmed 15 October 2018
* Guildford, Surrey – confirmed 28 September 2018
* Brockenhurst, Hampshire – confirmed 26 September 2018 – nest destroyed
* New Alresford, Hampshire – confirmed 24 September 2018 – nest destroyed
* Fowey, Cornwall – confirmed 20 September 2018 – nest destroyed
* Hull, Yorkshire – confirmed 9 September 2018 – single dead hornet
* Liskeard, Cornwall – confirmed 7 September 2018 – single dead hornet
* Fowey, Cornwall – confirmed 3 September 2018 – nest destroyed
* Bury, Lancashire – confirmed 13 April 2018 – single hornet sighted with photograph

The Renewables Obligation Order 2015 requires the Secretary of State to announce the level of the obligation 6 months preceding an obligation period. This note sets out the size of the obligation for the 2019 to 2020 period.

With British Food Fortnight well underway, an iconic Northern cocoa house, a producer of fine cheeses and a world-leading agri-tech firm have become the newest members of the Northern Powerhouse Partners Programme.

Nearing almost 200 members from Northern-based multinationals to plucky start-ups, the Northern Powerhouse Partners Programme is a coalition of businesses who strongly believe in the economic potential of the North and support the need for a combined effort by government and business to realise that full potential.

The 3 newest members are:

Cocogreen UK Ltd: With headquarters in Manchester, Cocogreen are the world’s largest bulk processor of coconut husks and world-leader in agricultural manufacturing, research and sustainable innovation. Their work around edible crops has helped to decrease the region’s reliance on food imports whilst extending production season in berries and fresh salads.

Cows and Co. Group: As a group of artisan cheese producers, farmers and entrepreneurs passionate about developing a brand of high-quality premium food and drink products, Cows and Co. are well placed to be one of the champions for cheese and dairy products proudly produced in the Northern Powerhouse. With dairies across the North, including Appleby in Cumbria, their prime focus is to add value to the rural economy, through investing in premium food and drink, sustainable energy and consulting.

York Cocoa House: Based in York, the chocolate emporium and café York Cocoa House is dedicated to celebrating the chocolate heritage, industry and innovation that York was once famous for. The business has recently embarked on a campaign to bring manufacturing back to the city and are even exploring the new lines of chocolate bars proudly designed and made in the Northern Powerhouse.

Northern Powerhouse Minister Jake Berry MP said:

From a Cumbrian creamery to crop developers in the heart of Lancashire, food manufacturers and innovators across the North are joining our Northern Powerhouse Partners Programme just in time for British Food Fortnight.

We’re seeing one of the greatest coalitions of private and public sector partners ever assembled all coming together to work for the benefit of a strong and resilient Northern Powerhouse economy that is fit for the future.

Thomas Ogden, Group Commercial Director of Cocogreen said:

Cocogreen are really excited to have joined the Northern Powerhouse Partners Programme. We’re a Queen’s Award-winning enterprise and a finalist in the Lloyds Business Awards for Export with operations across the world but a heart firmly located in Manchester where our Directors met and started Cocogreen. We’re a growing business and have ambitious plans to address key challenges within the food sector including sustainability.

We’re innovators in the world of biotechnology and food production and are proud of our business’s work in decreasing reliance on food imports and increasing the production season of fresh produce within berries and fresh salad.

Stuart Maclennan, Director of Cows and Co said:

Appleby Creameries is delighted to join the Northern Powerhouse Partners programme. As an artisan food business, we are committed to championing all the great foods the North has to offer such as our award-winning cheeses.

We are focussed on building an export strategy in order to expand into the premium export markets which we see as being of great value particularly for the agri-food sector. We believe by building local, northern brands both locally and oversees, rural regions such as Westmorland in Cumbria can really put themselves on the global map as part of the Northern Powerhouse.

Sophie Jewett, Managing Director of York Cocoa House said:

We’re dedicated to celebrating the chocolate heritage, industry and innovation that York was once famous for. As part of this, York Cocoa House has recently embarked on a campaign to bring manufacturing back to the city by opening York Cocoa Works, a chocolate manufacturing, education and innovation facility based in the centre of York.

We’re the UK lead for the International Chocolate Awards as well as being an advocate for sustainable sourcing in the cocoa supply chain and are looking forward to becoming more involved in the Northern Powerhouse activity through the Partners Programme.

British Food Fortnight is a campaign run by Love British Food who are partners of the Department for International Trade’s The Great British Food Campaign.

Businesses based in the North who would like to shine a spotlight on their contribution to the Northern Powerhouse during British Food Fortnight should tag @NPHinfo on Twitter and remember to use #BritishFoodFortnight and #FoodisGREAT in their tweets.

Further information

The Northern Powerhouse is government’s vision for a super-connected, globally-competitive northern economy with a flourishing private sector, a highly-skilled population, and world-renowned civic and business leadership.

The Northern Powerhouse Partners Programme is an important part of creating the Northern Powerhouse.

Government is building a network of partners who all believe strongly in the economic potential of the North and support the need for a combined effort by government and business to realise that potential. Nearly 200 businesses and organisations have signed up to the partner programme.

Prospective partners can email NorthernPowerhouse@communities.gov.uk for more information about the Partner Programme and how to apply.

British Food Fortnight was founded in 2002 and is now considered to be one of the biggest national celebrations of British food. It has proven to be an important influencer in engaging the retail, catering, education and voluntary sectors in establishing a more robust market for Britain’s food. Find out more at www.lovebritishfood.co.uk.