A bug hotel is a structure of any sort made from logs, sticks, pinecones and other nature-friendly material. It provides a shelter so that insects and other critters can make themselves at home. Building a bug hotel is a great way to invite solitary bees and other helpful pollinators into your garden.
They don’t have to be big like the ones at Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, and no drilling or hammering is needed.
Ask an adult to help you if you aren’t sure.
All you need to do is gather bunches of sticks, wood, and anything with little holes that bugs might like. Old bricks or slates can be useful too.Once you’ve gathered your material you just need to pick a spot to build your hotel, a sheltered corner of the garden will work perfectly. Start with the shape of your structure. You can criss-cross sticks in a square shape, one layer on top of another to start off, or you can try tying sticks together with string to create stable bunches to build with. You might even want to use bricks or slates to make a strong base or to support the sides. Remember to fill in any big gaps you might have with pinecones, leaves, or grass cuttings.
Leave the bug hotel in your garden and see what animals move in. If you’re lucky, you may even get hedgehogs or frogs pay you a visit!