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John Perring
Make an insect hotel
An invitation for insects
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Encouraging invertebrates into your garden is beneficial, as they help to attract birds, pollinate flowers, and provide a natural pest control.
There is often a lack of suitable habitats for these species, so creating an insect hotel is a great way to attract wildlife to your garden.
Standard insect hotel
You will need:
-
Hollow plant stems (like bamboo canes)
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Twigs and sticks
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String
What to do:
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Collect handfuls of stems, twigs and sticks
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Tie the bundles quite tightly in two places
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Post into a hedge / bush or hang in a sheltered place
Deluxe insect hotel
You will need:
-
Small logs or untreated timber
-
Hollow plant stems (like bamboo canes)
-
Twigs and sticks
-
String
-
Tools:
woodsaw / nails & hammer or screwdriver & woodscrews / drill & 5mm woodbit
What to do:
-
Small logs or untreated timber
-
Hollow plant stems (like bamboo canes)
-
Twigs and sticks
-
String
-
Tools:
woodsaw / nails & hammer or screwdriver & woodscrews / drill & 5mm woodbit
![Insect hotel diagram](/sites/default/files/styles/scaled_default/public/2018-06/INSECT-HOTEL.jpg?itok=tEKEhfQb)
So get outside and get creative!
You never know what might come to live in your creation.