Embracing Nature
Although this picture resembles some strange underground cave formation it is, in fact, a wasp nest just before it was removed from the kitchen vent in Moat Cottage. The wasps first appeared early last summer and it was decided to allow them to stay (after a sheet of cling film had been stuck to the inside of the vent). We were then able to watch the nest being very noisily built over the next few months. The removal was delayed as we waited for the first good frost to kill off the remnants of the wasps after the queens had flown. However we are yet to have a proper frost this winter, so it was not until this weekend that the deed was done. The nest itself was 6 inches in diameter and about 12 inches long and completely filled the vent. A new wasp-proof vent grill has been fitted and a small piece of the old nest left to discourage any wasps next year.