Build a bug hotel

As days get shorter and temperatures start to drop, garden insects will be looking for places to shelter over winter. It’s the ideal time to make a wildlife-friendly bug hotel. Lacewing, ladybird and hoverfly larvae will thank you for your hospitality by eating any pesky aphids next spring. Scout the shed or garage for a wooden crate or pallet then create compartments using old slates, tiles and wood offcuts. Gaps can be filled with garden prunings, straw, fallen leaves and pine cones to make nooks and crannies that little creatures will snuggle into and keep warm over winter.