Building a bug hotel with your child is one of the best garden activities, because it really doesn’t matter how big or small your space is, you can use anything.
We used pine cones that Reuben had collected earlier in the year. bits of old pots, pebbles, big stones, twigs etc
Reuben loves going into the garden and checking to see if any bugs have checked in yet.
This last week was half term in our area, and I have taken the opportunity to spend some quality time with Reuben – I do miss him so now that he is at school! Anyway, the weather was rather nice on Wednesday, not the blistering heat I would like but it was dry and sort of sunny so we got out into the garden to have a play and create a bug hotel for our insect pals.
Creating a bug hotel is one of the most simplistic crafts you can do in the garden with your kids – you just need to collect whatever you have! We used an old broken garden ball decoration, then collected things to go inside. This was the most fun part for Roo, he got dressed up as Iron Man, and ran about collecting twigs, dry leaves, stones, an old broken plant pot, pine cones and broken bits of pottery.
Once that was all collected it was merely a case of layering it up, putting certain pieces here and there and choosing a spot in the garden for the hotel to go.
We made our bug hotel on a small scale, but if you check Pinterest you will see hundreds of different options – from the five star Ritz of bug hotels to a tiny motel for business bugs to stop in! Here are a few of my favourites from Pinterest:
I love the use of this old topiary basket – image via RSPBC.
I love these decorative bug hotels. You could still get your kiddos to help you make these by asking them to collect the raw material and then putting it together yourself.
Go Large! I think this is brilliant if you have more room or want to make a nice centrepiece in your garden. Image via ahg.de
I hope you feel inspired to have a go at a bug hotel – no matter how big or small you want to try.
Harriet x
Hi, where can I get the directions for making that topiary basket on a stick?
I am new to pinterest .
Hi,
Found your pictures of the bug homes via Pinterest.
Just wondered how the round black bug homes were made or what the nice round shapes were made from.
Looks like it might be old tyres but not sure if you would have used that material.
Nice work anyway and great that you got the children involved in collecting materials and participating.
Best regards,
Archie – Scotland
Looks like flower pots.
Looks like flower pots.
Very creative good luck
VERY BEAUTIFUL…….ONE OF THESE ITEMS I LIKE TO MAKE FOT THIS CHRISTMAS XXX THANKS x