Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcasts Episode 2.49 - Inside the Hornet Cathedral & the Poisonous Yew
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Dec 7, 2025 Join Chris and Matthew as they explore a 350-year-old hollow oak, home to an astonishing abandoned hornet nest. Delve into the toxic allure of the English yew, whose beautiful arils hide a lethal secret. Witness the impact of avian flu with sick birds spotted around the farm and witness ash trees struggling against dieback. From the intriguing stinkhorn fungus to the hopeful emergence of bee orchids, this journey through winter encapsulates the beauty and harsh realities of nature.
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Yew's History, Range And Toxicity
- The English yew is widespread and historically significant, used for bows and often planted in churchyards to deter grazing livestock.
- All parts are poisonous (taxine) except the red arils which birds eat, aiding seed dispersal.
Inside The Hornet 'Cathedral'
- Chris and Matthew crawled inside a 350-year-old hollow oak to view a two-foot-tall abandoned hornet nest built of paper-like layers.
- The nest showed perfect hexagonal brood cells and ventilation chimneys crafted by a single overwintering queen.
Hornet Nest Engineering And Lifecycle
- Hornet nests are engineered for brood and ventilation with vertical brood combs and vents that draw cool air up through the structure.
- A single queen can start a nest each spring that grows to over a thousand workers by summer.