Make use of recycled materials to help provide a simple space for solitary bees to nest.
Bee hotels are a great way to help our solitary bees, as they don’t live in colonies – unlike bumblebees and honey bees. Britain has around 200 species of solitary bees, some species nest in tunnels in sandy banks or old bricks, others use hollow stems of dead plants or old wood to create their nests.
WHAT YOU NEED 
- Three clean tin cans
- Bamboo canes
- Non-toxic PVA glue
- Wood glue
- Paint
- Two thin pieces of wood for the roof
- A thin square piece of wood for the
back of the hotel
HOW TO MAKE 
1.
Place the piece of wood you have chosen for the back of your bee hotel on the floor. Put wood glue on the bottom of the cans and stick them to the wood in a pyramid shape (two below, one on top). Leave them to dry for an hour.
2.
Take the pieces of wood for your roof and place them in a triangle shape covering the cans. Glue the wood into place and leave them to dry for an hour.
3.
Cut the bamboo canes into short sections the depth of the tin cans. Place a little PVA glue on the end of each cane and push it into the can. Fill up the can with
the canes.
4.
Now your bee hotel is nearly ready. Paint it in bright colours and patterns (with
non-toxic paint) and leave it in a quiet, sunny, place outside for the bees to start using.
Place your bee hotel in a garden or anywhere outside throughout the summer. Just make sure it’s placed in a south facing position as bees love the sun.