Local beekeeper is named as Jersey's Asian hornet Coordinator

Jersey has appointed a Asian Hornet Coordinator for 2019, whose job will be finding ways to protect the island's biodiversity, our honeybees and public from the Asian Hornet.

Asian hornets were first seen in the Channel Islands in 2016 and since then, work has been going on in both Jersey and Guernsey in an attempt to slow the spread.

Alastair Christie is a beekeeper with 17 years' experience who will lead the Asian Hornet strategy 2019.

Mr Christie will work with the Jersey Bee Keepers' Association, the Jersey Asian Hornet Group, Environment Department scientific staff and others to tackle the problem of Asian Hornets.

A increase in nest findings from 2016 to 2018 in Jersey highlights the rapid rate of the Asian hornets establishment. Last year 55 nests were located and destroyed, and in August this year the National Bee Unit will send two teams of six UK Bee Inspectors to Jersey.