📢 Asian Hornets A Message from Kent Downs National Landscape

Kent Downs National Landscape, in partnership with Asian Hornet Alert, is running a pilot project called Making Trapping Happen. The project is helping farmers, landowners and smallholders across Kent monitor the spread of Asian Hornets – an invasive non-native species that preys on honeybees, bumblebees, hoverflies and butterflies, all vital for pollination and healthy crops.

As part of this project, selective monitoring traps are being distributed. These traps are for monitoring only – not for killing. The design allows most insects to fly in and out freely, but holds any Asian Hornets that enter. If a hornet is caught and verified using the Asian Hornet Watch app, trained volunteers can then set up bait stations nearby to trace the nest.

⚠️ This year alone, there have already been 385 credible sightings of Asian Hornets in the UK and 96 nests found and destroyed. Early detection is vital.

👉 Farmers, landowners, and smallholders can get involved by recording any sightings through the Asian Hornet Watch app, or by applying for a free monitoring trap.

For more details, please visit their dedicated webpage