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<p>The National Bee Unit (NBU), part of the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA)
have a long-standing relationship with Defra to deliver the Bee Health Programme which
includes management and control of honeybee pests and diseases and responding to outbreaks
of Asian hornets. As part of APHA, the NBU have already and will continue to draw
on further resources from the wider agency to take action on Asian hornets. There
is an Asian hornet contingency plan in place which details the government response
to Asian hornets and it is regularly reviewed. The most effective way of minimising
the threat of Asian hornets is through our continued eradication response, with the
aim of preventing Asian hornets from establishing.</p><p><br> The NBU has been taking
action against Asian hornets since 2016 and has a fine-tuned response. The Inspectors
frequently find a nest within a day of an initial sighting being reported. From 2016
to 2022, there were 23 confirmed sightings, leading to the destruction of 13 nests.
In 2023, the well-developed strategy was scaled up to deal with increased incursions
with 78 confirmed sightings and 72 nests destroyed.</p><p>We are using a range of
communication channels to raise awareness and keep beekeepers and the public informed
about Asian hornets. To support accurate and timely reporting, Defra has funded development
of the Asian hornet watch app. The NBU keep beekeepers informed of the response through
updates published on BeeBase and have also carried out other awareness raising activities,
including a blog filmed in Kent to support Asian Hornet Week in 2023. The Non-Native
Species Secretariat (NNSS) works with over 50 local actions groups and a wide range
of other organisations to raise awareness of Asian hornets. In 2023 they sent out
14,000 alert posters and 25,000 ID sheets, and since January 2024 they have sent a
further 31,000 alert posters, 57,000 ID sheets, and 14,000 nest ID sheets. Professor
Nicola Spence, the Defra Deputy Director for Plant and Bee Health, Plant Varieties
and Seeds, has provided press interviews covering details of the response to Asian
hornets. Defra is hosting an exhibit at the 2024 Chelsea Flower Show dedicated to
raising awareness of the Asian hornet, to increase vigilance amongst the public.</p>
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