News: August 2005

A wildlife expert has spoken up on behalf of hard-pressed social wasps struggling to find hibernation sites.

Neil Pullen, Swindon Wildlife Officer for Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, believes that TV home and garden shows are to blame for a sharp drop in wasp numbers. He says that '...all wasps die out [in the winter] except the queens. These wasps need warm places to survive the winter months. Compost heaps and, in particular, homes, have always provided shelter. But TV home and garden makeover shows have encouraged people to be less traditional. Queen wasps can no longer get into houses because of plastic fascias. Compost heaps are not as popular and people favour designer decking in their gardens instead of lawns.'

Kevin Shoesmith. Wasps are wiped out. Viewed at http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/wiltshire/archive/2005/08/18/swindon_news13ZM.html on August 22nd 2005.