Build Your Own Bug Hotel: Fun & Sustainable Garden Activities for Kids
Encouraging children to connect with nature is one of the best ways to foster curiosity and care for the environment. A fantastic way to do this is by building a bug hotel, a fun, hands-on project that supports local wildlife while sparking young imaginations. Perfect for gardens, schoolyards, or even balconies, a bug hotel provides shelter for insects such as ladybirds, beetles, and solitary bees. Here’s how to create one at home!
Why Build a Bug Hotel?
Bug hotels offer a safe place for beneficial insects to rest, hibernate, and lay eggs. By inviting these tiny creatures into your garden, you’re helping to support local biodiversity and natural pest control. Plus, it’s a wonderful way to engage children in sustainable gardening and conservation efforts.
What You’ll Need
Building a bug hotel is easy and requires mostly natural or upcycled materials. Gather the following:
- A sturdy wooden frame (an old wooden box, a stack of pallets, or a large plant pot on its side)
- Bamboo canes or hollow plant stems (ideal for solitary bees)
- Pinecones, bark, or straw (great for ladybirds and beetles)
- Logs with drilled holes (a perfect nesting site for certain insects)
- Leaves, moss, and twigs (provide warmth and shelter)
- Bricks with holes or small terracotta pots (for extra hiding spaces)
- Wire mesh (to keep materials in place and deter larger animals)
How to Build Your Bug Hotel
- Choose a Location – Find a quiet, shaded area in your garden where the bug hotel will remain undisturbed.
- Create a Frame – Stack wooden pallets or use a sturdy wooden box as the foundation.
- Fill with Materials – Layer your gathered materials inside the frame, leaving plenty of small gaps and holes for insects to crawl into.
- Secure the Structure – Use wire mesh if needed to keep the materials in place, but ensure there are plenty of entry points for insects.
- Personalise It! – Get creative! Decorate with stones, paint signs, or plant wildflowers nearby to attract even more pollinators.
Observing and Caring for Your Bug Hotel
Once your bug hotel is set up, encourage children to check in regularly and observe the different insects that move in. Keeping a nature journal is a great way to track changes and learn more about the creatures that call it home. In winter, avoid disturbing it too much, as many insects will be hibernating.
Make It Part of a Bigger Project
Building a bug hotel can be part of a larger effort to make gardens more wildlife-friendly. Consider planting native flowers, setting up a small pond, or leaving a wild patch in the garden to further support nature.
Share Your Creations!
We’d love to see your bug hotels! Share photos of your creations on social media and tag us using @pennywellfarm to inspire other families to get involved. Happy building!
This story appeared on February 19, 2025
