From the British Beekeepers' Association (BBKA):
The BBKA is launching a new education programme to help children learn about pollinators, invasive species and environmental stewardship — while contributing to national Yellow-legged Asian hornet monitoring efforts.
Timed to coincide with Invasive Species Week (22–28 June 2026), the annual campaign led by the Non‑Native Species Secretariat (NNSS), the initiative highlights the crucial role of education and community action in reducing the impact of invasive species.
Lucie Chaumeton, BBKA trustee, said: “Spotting and reporting Yellow-legged Asian hornets is vital to protect our pollinators. This project empowers children to take part in powerful citizen science while learning about biodiversity, ecosystems and the importance of pollinator conservation. It’s a perfect fit for the post-SATs period, giving pupils a purposeful, creative and curriculum-linked project at a time when schools are looking for high-quality enrichment activities.”
The Pollinator Protectors programme is designed for Year 6 pupils (aged 10–11). Over four weeks, children can explore the ecology of the Yellow‑legged Asian hornet (Vespa velutina nigrithorax), an invasive predator that poses a serious threat to honey bees and other pollinating insects in the UK.
Pupils design and build a simple monitoring station, observe insect activity in their school grounds, record data, and share their findings with the wider school community. All activities follow BBKA safety guidance and emphasise responsible, supervised observation — not approaching or disturbing hornets or nests.
Defra Chief Plant Health Officer, Professor Nicola Spence CBE, said: “Public awareness and education are essential to the UK’s response to invasive non-native species. Initiatives such as the BBKA’s Pollinator Protectors project help young people understand biosecurity, species identification and the importance of early detection. Engaging pupils in this way supports wider national efforts to protect our environment and agricultural systems.”
The programme has been developed by Barnsley‑based teacher and beekeeper Richard Senior. It supports learning across Science, Geography, Mathematics, English, Computing, Design & Technology and Art.
Pupils explore food chains, habitats, invasive species, data handling, mapping skills and scientific communication. Optional extension activities include researching other UK invasive species, creating awareness materials for the school community, and collaborating with local beekeepers.
To support safe and confident delivery, the BBKA has provided an editable risk assessment and links to official monitoring guidance.
The launch comes as the UK continues to face rising numbers of the yellow-legged Asian hornet. The BBKA hopes the scheme will help raise awareness among young people and support national efforts to detect and report suspected sightings via the Asian Hornet Watch app.
Schools and home educators can access the full project framework, resources and guidance — all free of charge — at: https://www.bbka.org.uk/pollinator-science-project