Help the environment and the wildlife that inhabits it by creating a bug hotel! Not only is a bug hotel a fun, simple and great way of recycling materials you have lying around the house or garden, but it also provides all kinds of wildlife and bugs with a safe home. Wildlife Insects, critters Frogs, toads Hedgehogs Small mammals Suitable for Balcony/roof Small, medium large gardens Benefits Provides safe environment for bugs to live in Supplement loss of natural habitats Encourages biodiversity which helps to increase ecosystem productivity Difficulty level Easy – medium Activity time Less than 2 hours Step 1 – Collect Your Materials If you look around your home and garden, you will be able to find lots of materials you can re-use. The more materials you use, the larger number of insects you will have paying a visit! Ethique packaging Old wooden pallets Strips of wood Straw Moss Dry leaves Woodchips Old terracotta pots Old roofing tiles Bricks with holes through them Old logs Bark Pinecones Sand Soil Hollow bamboo canes Dead hollow stems cut from shrubs and herbaceous plants A sheet of roofing felt Planks of wood Step 2 – Choose A Suitable Location Pick an undisturbed area of the garden with sun light or light shade that has level ground and plenty of soil. You’ll get different insect visitors depending on where you place the hotel as some prefer cool, damp conditions e.g. ants, whereas others prefer the sun e.g. bees. You can also place the bug hotel next to wildflowers! Step 3 – Let’s Start Building! Firstly, decide on the size of the hotel you’d like to create. You will need a strong, stable framework for the base – preferably no more than 1 metre high. Small: Bricks, twigs and logs will do the trick Medium – Large: Old wooden pallets are ideal, as they’re sturdy and have ready made gaps For the base, lay the chosen materials on the ground to create a sturdy foundation. Remember to leave a few gaps so that insects can find their way in! Next, place dry leaves on the ground (this will help create a similar texture to the garden). Line the bricks on top of the base, around the corners and across the middle (creating an H-shape) and continue to repeat the process until you’ve reached your desired height. Step 4 – Fill The Hotel The fun part! Use the smaller materials to fill in the spaces to create lots of nooks and crannies, tunnels and cosy beds for the critters. Using different materials will attract all kinds of insects! • Dead wood and loose bark for creepy crawlies like beetles, centipedes, spiders and woodlice • Holes and small tubes for solitary bees made from bamboo, reeds and drilled logs • Larger holes with stones and tiles – provide the cool, damp conditions preferred by frogs and toad • Dry leaves, sticks or straw for ladybirds, beetles and bugs • Corrugated cardboard for lacewings Discover more: How to make an Oobleck