Cosmeston Lakes Parkrun rejig after suffering hornets attack

At Cosmeston Lakes Parkrun on, September 2, race directors had to apologise to some runners who had been stung by hornets.

Now, the parkrun, which attracts hundreds of runners to the beautiful Cosmeston Lakes every Saturday morning, has had to alter its route due to a nest being discovered in Cogan Woods.

In August, there were fears hornets were on a sharp rise in the UK after a huge nest was found in an abandoned house on the Channel Islands.

Hornets are feared because they can decimate indigenous bee populations for which they feed on.

Park runners were stung by angry hornets (Image: Abyd Quinn Aziz)

Cosmeston Lakes Parkrun had to re-plan its run route (Image: Abyd Quinn Aziz)

At Cosmeston Lakes, the course had to be hurriedly re-routed so that it could continue.

Run director James explained: “Thanks to a Herculean effort by event director Lyn we are all set to go with an alternative course.

“He has worked tirelessly behind the scenes, meeting park rangers, updating risk assessment, reprinting volunteer lanyards, marking out the new course and turn around points, buying a new improved first aid kit, resubmitting the Google maps course route and getting it all signed off with head office.”

The new Cosmeston Lakes parkrun run route (Image: Cosmeston Lakes Parkrun)

The old run route with Cogan Wood off limits at the moment (Image: Cosmeston Lakes Parkrun)

The new route avoids Cogan wood and instead includes a gruelling there and back 900metre slog up and down mile road.

The nest was hanging from the ceiling of an abandoned home in St Brelades on the Channel Island and was destroyed on August 14 (Image: SWNS)

Event director Lyn Evans said so far, people have liked the temporary route.

“A few runners were stung by hornets on September 2,” said Mr Evans.

“There's a nest in a tree in Cogan Wood and it seems this particular week, the runners aggravated the hornets.

“The subsequent advice from the park ranger team was that the hornets could be active for another six to eight weeks. 

“In order to keep our parkrun participants and volunteers safe, we decided to put in place an alternative course, rather than cancelling.

"The alternative course misses out the entire section through Cogan Wood. 

“After the usual start up to Mile Road, participants now do almost two full laps of the Western Lake then complete a new loop up and back down Mile Road before finishing as normal.

“We used the alternative course for the first time on Saturday, September 9, without problems and with good feedback from participants.”

Are you interested in getting involved in Parkrun? Visit the Cosmeston Lake Parkrun Facebook page here to find out how to join in with running or volunteering.