We know that kids love exploring the outside whether they’re building forts, making mud pies or climbing trees.
The following garden craft project is the perfect opportunity for kids to get away from those screens and reconnect with the nature. Furthermore, building a bug hotel is also educational as it teaches children about native animal habitats and they learn how to care for the environment.
You may now have spare time on our hands and many parents are home schooling their children, which is why Ryobi Power Tools has put together a step-by-step guide on how to build your very own bug using natural materials.
Treat your bug-life guests to luxury accommodation by constructing a mansion full of cosy corners and tasty treats.
There is an abundance of outdoor projects you can do without leaving home, this is just the start and by sharing this project with family and friends you can inspire others to join in!
1. Collect materials
Spend some time looking around your garden for twigs, leaves, pinecones, bark and pebbles. These will provide the building blocks for your hotel. Some insects like tiny holes to crawl into and others like leaves and twigs to move around so make sure to get a mixture. Broken plant pots would also work here to create some height, as well as bricks, wooden pallets and old roof tiles.
2. Find a suitable place
Bug hotels are best placed in an undisturbed corner of your garden that’s sheltered from bad weather. Insects like to feel safe and cosy so the darker corners of your outside space are the best for this.
3. Start building
Insects love dark corners so build up your hotel with different sized nooks and lots of places for them to hide. Piles of logs attract birds and hedgehogs who nestle into these to find tiny grubs to snack on. Larger holes with stones and tiles will create cool, damp spaces that will attract frogs and toads. Add moss and leaves inside the hotel to create a similar texture to your garden. When you’re finished, be sure to add a roof so that the guests can stay dry.
4. Sit and wait
Now is the time for patience as you sit and wait for your guests to arrive. As the seasons change, different bugs and garden creatures will visit depending on whether they’re hibernating or looking for food.