DRAFT PREVIEW, NOT PUBLISHED
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Bees in Danger (DRAFT, information only)

Original copy for Brookfield Honey. Facts checked 12 Oct 2026; sources at the end. Hornet figures change quickly, so recheck before publishing.

Why our bees need a helping hand

Every spoonful of honey starts with a bee visiting thousands of flowers. Bees and other pollinators help many of our fruit, vegetables and wildflowers grow, too. But across the UK, many wild pollinators have been declining for decades, and honeybee colonies face pressures that would have been unheard of a generation ago. Here's what's going on, in plain terms.

Fewer flowers, fewer homes

This is the big one. Since the mid-20th century, a huge amount of flower-rich meadow, hedgerow and rough grassland has disappeared under more intensive farming, housing and roads. Government-commissioned reviews point to this loss of habitat as the most likely main cause of wild bee decline. Bees need flowers from early spring to late autumn, plus safe places to nest, and in many areas both are now in short supply.

Pesticides

Chemicals that protect crops can also harm bees when they aren't used carefully. Research in England has linked one group of insecticides (neonicotinoids) to falling wild bee populations. Most outdoor uses are now restricted, but how pesticides are used still matters, in fields and in gardens.

Varroa and disease

Varroa is a tiny mite that arrived in the UK in 1992 and is now found almost everywhere honeybees are kept. It feeds on bees and spreads viruses such as deformed wing virus. Left unchecked, it can wipe out a colony. Good beekeeping, with regular checks and careful treatment, keeps it under control, which is a big part of how we look after our own hives.

A changing climate

Warmer winters, wet summers and unseasonal weather can upset the timing between when flowers bloom and when bees are out looking for them. Some bumblebee species are already shifting where they live. Bad weather also means bees can't fly to forage, and a hungry colony goes into winter weaker.

These pressures don't act alone. A bee that's short of food is less able to cope with disease, and so on. That's why small changes, made by lots of people, really do add up.

The yellow-legged hornet (Asian hornet)

You may have heard it called the Asian hornet. Officially it is now known as the yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina). It isn't native to the UK. It reached France by accident in 2004, spread across Europe, and was first found in Britain in 2016.

Why it's a problem

This hornet is a skilled hunter of other insects. It hovers outside beehives and picks off honeybees as they return home, and it also takes wild pollinators. A busy hornet nest can stress a colony so much that it stops foraging and struggles to survive. The insect is not usually aggressive towards people away from its nest, but nests must never be disturbed.

How to tell it apart from our native hornet

Many people expect a big scary insect. In fact the yellow-legged hornet is smaller than our native European hornet, closer to the size of a large wasp. Look for:

Yellow-legged (Asian) hornet European hornet (native)
Size Around wasp-sized, smaller than a European hornet Large and noisy in flight
Body colour Very dark, almost black Brown and yellow, with yellow stripes on the abdomen
Abdomen Dark, with one bold yellow-orange band near the tail Mostly yellow with brown markings
Legs Yellow tips, as if dipped in paint Brown or reddish
Face Orange-yellow Yellowish, with a reddish-brown head

Several harmless insects get mistaken for it, including hoverflies, wasps and sawflies, so a photo really helps.

The situation in the UK right now

The hornet is not yet established in the UK, thanks to fast reporting by the public and quick action by the government's National Bee Unit, which tracks down and destroys nests. 2026 has been a busy year, though. By 1 October there had been 212 confirmed sightings and 74 nests found this year, mostly in Kent and the south-east. Activity has also been watched in Dorset, East Sussex, London and elsewhere. Our neighbours in southern England are on the front line, so Hampshire eyes matter.

Seen one? Report it

Include a photo if you can safely take one, where you saw it, and your contact details. Don't go near or disturb a nest. If you can't get a photo or need help, your local Asian Hornet Team (run through the British Beekeepers' Association) can help.

What you can do to help bees

Every flower and every report helps. Thank you for looking out for our bees!

Sources (checked 12 Oct 2026)