Median wasp queen in Cuckfield garden, West Sussex

 The second largest British social wasp species. Dolichovespula media was first recorded in 1980 in Sussex, since when it has spread over all of England and Wales, and much of southern Scotland. It has a short life cycle, with nests finishing in August.
Nests are aerial and generally exposed, usually hanging from trees or bushes.
Source: http://www.bwars.com/content/beginners-bees-wasps-ants-dolichovespula-media   Bees, Wasps & Ants Recording Society