National Trust of Guernsey is pleased to support and engage with The Biodiversity Partnership, a collection of local environmental NGO’s and States of Guernsey Agriculture, Countryside and Land Management Services (ACLMS). The Biodiversity Partnership advises on and supports the delivery of, the Biodiversity Strategy. Invasive Non-Native Species Week (INNS Week) is an annual event organised by the Non-Native Species Secretariat. This year it is being held from 23–29 March. Each day throughout the week, a different invasive species is being promoted. Information includes how to identify the species, the problems it is causing and what you can do to help control it. Invasive Species Week 2018, is kicking off with the promotion of the threat of Asian Hornets, including the launch of the 'Track Don’t Trample' campaign. Asian Hornets were first recorded in Guernsey in 2017. After reports from the public and a co-ordinated response by ACLMS and the Guernsey Bee Keepers Association, two nests were found and destroyed. Unfortunately, it is possible that queen hornets had already left those nests and may have over-wintered on the Island. Each queen that survives the winter, can build a new nest of their own, the following spring. We hope that the public will once again join in the fight to track down any nests which may be built on the island. Track Don’t Trample This year, a new initiative is being launched – the ‘Track Don’t Trample’ campaign seeks to encourage the public to take pictures of the hornets and record the direction they fly in. This information will then be added to a map and used by ACLMS and the Guernsey Bee Keepers Association to track down any hornet's nests, which will then be destroyed. The public are being encouraged not to kill the insects that they find. Most of the sightings reported last year, were of our native wildlife, such as the Hornet Mimic Hoverfly – a type of fly which mimics the strips of hornets to prevent being eaten by predators. What to do if you find a hornet If a suspected hornet is sighted, take a photo if possible and email this to asianhornet@gov.gg. The following information should also be included:
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The location
The direction the hornet flew in
Your name and contact details
Alternatively, log your sighting through the iPhone and Android recording app: Asian Hornet Watch, or telephone 01481 234567 with as much information as possible. Julia Henney, Biodiversity Education Officer comments:- ‘Asian Hornets are a huge threat – not only to our local honey bees but, as they feed on a great variety of insects, to our Island’s biodiversity as a whole. Due to the huge effort by the community, ACLMS and the Bee Keepers Association last year, we were able to find and destroy two nests. Hopefully the campaign this year can be just as successful and we can prevent Asian Hornets from colonising here.’ Track Don't Trample Flyer