Wild Birds and Insects Need Your Help

March is here and the breeding season for wild birds is just round the corner. The weather is still undecided, so please spare a thought for the wild birds in your garden and remember to top up your bird feeders. Food is in short supply this time of year, so it is especially important to help early starters with supplemental food.

Of course, don’t forget the little wild beasties down in your garden. You can help the insects, bees and of course Mr Toad by providing housing in the shape of wildlife stacks just in time for the onset of spring. Old bricks, clay pots, logs and stones are great for ground inhabitants and garden canes and a bit for straw from the rabbit hutch are great for winged foragers. Why not build an insect hotel in your garden with some old wooden pallets, drain pipe, bits of stone and wooden boxes. Its a great activity to get the kids involved with and you don’t need to speed a lot of money on fancy bug hotels from the shop. Your new friends will reward your kindness by keeping all the summer garden pests under control and help with pollination of fruit and flowers.

We are going to be building our own insect houses soon at the animal sanctuary, so if you would like to help, please get in touch and ask about our weekend buildathons. We need lots of materials so please give us a call if you have any old items you think might be of use. And please send us your designs, show us your pictures and tell us about the wildlife where you live. We’ll feature the best ones on our website and send out pet samaritans badges to the winners.

Here’s some inspiration from around the net that caught our eye.
This beautiful wild bee house was photographed in the Black Forest, Germany – thanks NiftyHomestead.com for sharing this wonderful image.

Craft Hubs has also sorts of great DIY bug houses and hotels for the wild beasties. This one caught our eye to show what can be done with a few objects you probably have lying around your garden. For more great ideas check out the crafthubs blog.

Finally, when its time to go posh, this ultimate insect house hotel from pinterest really shows what can be done.