Step-by-step bug hotel guide
- Choose a suitable site.
It needs to be level and the ground firm.
You’ll get different residents depending on where you place your hotel, as some like cool, damp conditions and others (such as solitary bees) prefer the sun. If you have vegetable beds, keep it a good distance away from them.
The basic structure. You will need a strong, stable framework.
2. Fill the gaps.
The idea is to provide all sorts of different nooks and crannies, crevices, tunnels and cosy beds.
Include:
- dead wood and loose bark
- holes and small tubes (not plastic)
- large holes
- stones and pebbles
- dry leaves, sticks or straw for ladybirds
- cardboard
- dry leaves
3. Add a 'roof'.
When you think you've gone high enough, you need to put on a roof on to keep it dry.
You could even give it a 'green' or 'brown' roof by putting a bit of rubble or gritty soil on top.
Surround your hotel with nectar-rich flowers – essential food for butterflies, bees and other pollinating insects.
If you want, choose a name for your hotel and put a sign up outside.