Page 28 - FEB2020

Fun stuff- insect hotels

Safe hideaways can be hard for wildlife to find in some
gardens, and what better use for all your garden waste than

to create an insect hotel. Pruned logs and branches, old bits
of tile, raked grass and leaves, can all be crafted into your
own attractive insect hideaway.

Insects play diverse and important roles in our environment. Attracting bees,
ladybirds and even woodlice to your garden will help with pollination, predation
on unwanted pests, and composting. Drill into the logs holes, from 3 to 10 mm,
in a small oblique angle so that any moisture can run out. Vary hole depths for
diversity and give the hotel enough width, depth and height around 30 to 40 cm.
Find a sheltered spot, it is important that you give the hotel a roof against rain so
that the wood and grass stays dry — especially because bees are searching for dry
spots. Also make sure the materials are well secured and do not use treated wood,
keep it natural. You can decorate the hotel with old rusty bits, tyres, and the like,
to give character to your garden creation. S.C (Photos: Pixabay & SC in Basel)

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