A Hornet, Vespa crabro, at Wakehurst Place today

 Opening the magnetically locked (numerical code operated) gate from the Loder Valley back into Wakehurst Place, imagine the surprise to be face-to face with a Hornet.

 What to do?  Well take some pic's for sure.  How beautiful you are with your five eyes; two compound and your three ocelli, simple eyes.

 And say "Hi!  Please don't sting me if I just place my fingers near you for an idea of scale."

Hornets have a powerful sting, yet are reckoned to be less aggressive that other wasps.  Had I known that at the time it could have walked on my hand.  But I was cautious of the unknown then.