What you will need

Materials

■ 5ltr can of Cuprinol 5 Year Ducksback wood treatment

■ 1 rough-sawn wood pallet

■ 3 flat-head nails

■ Sandpaper/flexible sanding pad

■ Selection of natural materials, such as straw, pine cones, hessian, jute, natural dried grasses, cut bamboo etc.

■ Fine-mesh chicken wire

■ 8-10 metal pins and screws

■ Fixing bracket

■ Staples (DIY, not stationery)

Equipment

■ Handsaw

■ Paintbrush

■ Wire clippers

■ Drill

■ Hammer

1 Saw off the end of the pallet using a handsaw. Be sure to be in a well-lit area and with the pallet on a secure surface with plenty of space around you.

2 Lever off one of the planks from the discarded pallet and nail to the back of the cut section creating an open-fronted box with two long slots.

3 Lightly sand the box, dust off after sanding with a clean brush or cloth, then paint with two coats of Cuprinol 5 Year Ducksback in your favourite shade, allowing to dry completely after each coat.

4 Now fill each slot with natural materials. Layer up your pine cones and hessian, jute, grasses and bamboo. There’s no real method to it; just be creative and do your best to pack it with goodies for the bugs.

5 Cut a length of chicken wire to cover the open front of each box and hammer in small staples to keep in place. Trim wire to size using wire clippers. Fix bracket to the back, hang off a fence and wait for the bugs to set up home in their new hotel.