Bollin Valley Workshop
"Giving Wildlife a Home".
Children will be constructing amazing insect habitats at our school,
It is a fantastic project and one that can be renewed every year as some of the elements rot away. Children can personalise the 'hotel' by bringing something special from home like a stone, some leaves or a shell. They can construct hotel extensions and even gardens around the hotel.
The best approach on what to 'stuff' the hotel with seems to be keep things as natural as possible and be imaginative with any items that can be easily donated. Old bricks (the type with holes running through them) are fantastic - keep them low down to avoid dropping on toes! Sections of drain pipe filled with canes, straw, etc. can provide valuable overwintering habitats for insects like ladybirds. Tiles near the bottom can be used as toad holes. Other insect homes (like sections of plastic bottles stuffed with hollow stems) can be arranged in groups to look very effective too. Twigs are great - especially if you have an area children can go to collect them - and they can be used to fill in lots of little gaps.
Please bring these items into school to make the experience wonderful.
