Wednesday February 13th at Colliton Club Dorchester
It may be a quiet time in the Apiary but it is not a time to relax. This year we face a greater risk than ever before that we will see the Asian Hornet in Dorset.
Why?
The number of Asian Hornets in Northern France is on the increase and that means there are more Asian Hornets which could get a lift over the channel on a lorry or in a car or caravan.
The number of lorries coming into the channel ports will possibly increase under Brexit and more vehicles mean more chances of an Asian Hornet getting a lift.
In Dorset we have extra responsibilities as we have channel ports of entry from Northern France.
And it not just about the bees.
I was under the impression that the Asian Hornet was a serious risk to the honey bee in this country and that was why we should be worried. This is not the case.
The Asian Hornet is a risk to all pollinating insects and that could have a profound effect on UK agriculture. Just think of the food which we eat which depends on pollinating insects. For example in the UK we depend on pollination for all our fruit including strawberries and apples, we depend on pollination for all beans be it runner beans or broad beans, we depend on pollination for tomatoes, peppers and aubergines. All of these foods are at risk if the Asian Hornet gets established in this country.
As part of our effort to prevent the Asian Hornet getting established in the UK the Dorchester and Weymouth Bee Keepers Association is holding an Asian Hornet information evening on Wednesday the 13th of February at 7pm at the Colliton Club in Dorchester.
At the meeting there will be a presentation by Mark White the County Asian Hornet Coordinator who will explain briefly life-cycle of the Asian Hornet, its identification, the current status in the UK and our plans for action. There will be time for any questions and discussion.
In addition members of the Dorchester and Weymouth Bee Keepers Association can collect an Asian Hornet trap. In exchange for the Asian Hornet trap we need to know exactly where you are going to set it up. Most people will be placing their trap near their apiary. We need to know exactly where they are to be installed so that we can see what areas are covered and where there are gaps in our coverage.
We hope to see you there. We all have a lot to learn and a lot to do and this is the best time to start learning and doing.