Second hornet's nest discovered within two successive weeks

Headline: Large Asian Hornet's Nest Removed from Elizabeth College Oak Tree

In a recent development, a large Asian hornet's nest has been successfully removed from an oak tree at Elizabeth College. This is the third occasion where the Guernsey Civil Protection has been called upon for the Asian hornet control programme, which started in 2019.

The hornets were first detected in the College pollinator patch. Subsequent investigations led to the discovery of the nest, which was located in the crown of a Turkey oak, approximately 16 meters high. The maintenance team or groundskeeping staff at Elizabeth College was responsible for its removal. Due to the nest's location, a road closure of one hour was necessary to ensure safety during the operation.

Francis Russell, Invasive Non-Native Species Policy & Coordination Officer, stated that built-up areas present additional challenges for removal teams. He emphasised the importance of the public's role in reporting sightings of Asian hornets, as this is essential in controlling this invasive species.

Reports and photographs of hornets hovering over pints of beer at The Swan Inn and The Terrace restaurant led to the suspicion of a nest in town. Other nests have been identified in St Andrews around Bailiffs Cross, in Castel off Rouette de la Tour, and in the Vale off Rue de Marais.

To report suspected Asian hornet sightings, the public is advised to contact [email protected], by telephone on 01481 220110, or 07839 197082. The Guernsey Civil Protection is highly professional in setting up cordons and securing immediate areas, allowing the team to focus on safely destroying and removing nests. On this occasion, Treevolution was called in to access and remove the nest.

In a positive turn of events, a second Asian hornet's nest has been discovered near La Gibauderie, and will be removed as soon as possible. The public is encouraged to remain vigilant and continue reporting any sightings of Asian hornets to help control the spread of this invasive species.