Bug Hotels

A bug hotel is a small shelter packed with natural materials, like hollow stems, pine cones, dry grass and bark, where insects and other minibeasts can hide, rest and spend the winter. Solitary bees, ladybirds, beetles, woodlice and spiders all use them. Building one is a simple, hands-on way for families to help wildlife in a garden, on a balcony or at school.

Many minibeasts rely on dead wood, long grass, leaf piles and hollow stems for shelter. Tidy gardens, paving and fences can leave them with fewer places to go. A bug hotel gives them a safe, dry spot close to the plants they need. That matters, because insects pollinate flowers and crops, and they're food for birds, hedgehogs, frogs and bats. Help the bugs and you help the whole garden.

Different minibeasts like different bedding, so a mix of fillings works best.

Hollow stems and bamboo canes make perfect nesting tubes for solitary bees, such as mason bees.

Pine cones and dry grass offer snug gaps for ladybirds and lacewings.

Bark, twigs and small logs attract beetles, woodlice and centipedes, while stones and broken pots create cool, damp corners.

Netting or mesh holds everything in place. Use naturally fallen materials where you can, and leave living plants where they are.

Start with a sturdy container, such as a large plant pot, a wooden box or a stack of old pallets. Pack it tightly with a mix of fillings so nothing falls out, then cover the front with netting if you need to. Place it somewhere sheltered and off the ground if you can, near flowers and plants. Then be patient together. Minibeasts may take a while to find their new home.

It's a lovely one for all ages. Children get to forage, sort and pack materials, and they learn a lot about minibeasts along the way. There's no wrong way to fill one, which takes the pressure off. Best of all, a bug hotel keeps giving long after it's built, as you check back together to see who has moved in.

You might also like Nature i-Spy, Forest School and Beekeeping.

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