Wiltshire Beekeepers Association WBKA Charity Reg 1198735

01/08/2025

Update Animal and Plant Health Agency’s National Bee Unit’s (NBU) work against yellow-legged hornet (YLH), also known as Asian hornet, for the week ending 1st August.

As of 31 July, the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s National Bee Unit (NBU) informed us that they have received further credible reports of YLH’s. This means that currently there has been a total of 108 sightings in 2025.

Three sightings have been reported in new locations; other sightings reflect previously reported locations: The new locations are Shipbourne, Headcorn and Broadstairs, all in Kent.

Fourteen nests have been discovered.
Kent
Harrietsham, Kent
Higham near Gravesend, Kent
Church Hougham, Kent
Broadstairs, Kent
Sandgate, Kent
Hythe, Kent
Hemsted, Kent
Langdon Cliffs (1), Dover, Kent
Langdon Cliffs (2), Dover, Kent
Betteshanger, Kent
Stelling Minnis, Kent


East Sussex
Broad Oak, East Sussex
Hastings, East Sussex
Sedlescombe, East Sussex


As of 31 July, 41 confirmed nests have been found this year.

Four of these nests have been found by using a new tracking system which the NBU are trialling this year. The nest at Broadstairs was found by the local AHAT.

The nest at Chilham has been analysed by Fera Science. The results showed that it was highly likely to be the offspring of the Coldred nest found in 2024.

The NBU are following up the other credible reports and anticipate finding further nests.

19/07/2025

Latest update on the Asian Hornet

Update on the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s National Bee Unit’s (NBU) work against Asian hornet (AH), week ending 18th July.

As of 17 July, the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s National Bee Unit (NBU) informed us that they have received 13 further credible reports of AHs.
Currently there has been a total of 68 sightings in 2025.

New sightings have been reported in:
Kent
• Stelling Minnis
• Broad Oak
• Whitstable
• Farthing Common
• Staple
• Rochester
• Hythe (3 sightings)

East Sussex
• Doleham
• Sedlescombe, Hastings
• Udimore

Greater London
• Ilford

Six nests have been found this week: in Stelling Minnis, Hythe (15m high in a tree), Staple (in the ground at the base of Hazel tree), Udimore (in a barn), Ilford (6m high in a tree) and River, near Dover (in the ground). Three nests have been destroyed and the other three will be destroyed next week.

One of the destroyed nests has been removed and sent to Fera Science for analysis. It was not possible to remove the other 2 destroyed nests.

There have been 24 nests so far this year.

The NBU are following up the other credible reports and anticipate finding further nests.

26/04/2025

Defra update 25.4.25

The Animal and Plant Health Agency’s National Bee Unit (NBU) informed us that they have received 3 further credible reports of YLH’s, including the first hornet caught in an NBU-placed trap.
On 17th April a householder in Hythe, Southampton, Hampshire submitted a credible report of a YLH trying to build a nest in a playhouse in the garden. The householder was able to capture, confirm the species and kill it. However, it has not been possible to make contact with the reporter to verify or obtain the specimen as yet. This is approx. 4.5km from the Marchwood sighting 2 weeks ago and from the Marchwood nest in 2023.
On 19th April, a YLH was reported by the YLAHT (Yellow-Legged Asian Hornet Team) Coordinator for Ashford on behalf of a householder in Folkestone, Kent (adjacent to the Channel tunnel freight terminal). The YLH was found the previous afternoon in a conservatory, initially alive. A bee inspector collected the hornet on the same day which was sent to Fera Science.
On 23rd April, a local bee inspector found a YLH in an NBU-placed trap approx. 200m from the previous reported sighting in Marchwood, Hampshire.
The local Yellow-Legged Asian Hornet Teams have been contacted and asked to monitor responsibly in all these areas.

20/02/2025

Stuck at a loose end this weekend ? Why not pay a visit to the biggest and best Beekeeping Trade show in the country ?

Held at Telford International Centre, just 2 hours up the M5 from Wiltshire, The Beekeeping Show has everything for beginners and experienced beekeepers alike.

With lectures, presentations and many many trade stands from all the major UK suppliers as well as some from overseas, the day is a great day out and a chance to come away with great show bargains too.

The food is excellent and parking just next door to the main entrance with ‘click and collect’ for those big purchases too.

Hope to see you there !

PS - it’s quicker if you buy tickets in advance through the link below

Saturday 22 February 2025 Telford International Centre 09.30*–16.00 (*Early-bird ticket entry 08.30)

20/02/2025

For members - in late Spring the Honey Bee Health Day returns to Wiltshire….more details soon

20/02/2025

Welcome

This page is the new official page that represents Wiltshire Beekeepers Assocaition.

The county of Wiltshire has 5 well attended local associations - Kennet, Melksham, Salisbury, Swindon and West Wiltshire. The Charity represents four of the associations - with Salisbury currently not part of the charity (hopefully sometime this will change)

The charity and its aims and documents can be found on our web page www.wiltshirebeekeepers.co.uk which also provides more contact details for officers, trustees and the individual branches.

The aim of this page is to both signpost the Charity to enable interested parties to make contact, as well as act as a means of communication to both members of WBKA and non-members alike.

We hope you enjoy our updates and we remain open to any suggestions for improvement or posts to share.

Speaker Biogs for the Wiltshire Bee & Honey Day 2021