Scrapbook image

Your scrapbook

Follow Gardeners' World

Advertisement

Gardeners' World

How to...

make a bug box

Bug box being installed for insects

You will need:

  • Untreated timber
  • Hollow canes such as bamboo
  • Pieces of branch or other wood
  • Wood saw
  • 2.5cm nails and hammer
  • Drill and wood drill bit
  • Screwdriver and self-tapping screw

Overview

Make a bug box for insects and give nature a helping hand within your garden. Using easy-to-find scraps of timber, old bamboo canes and old branches, it will cost you very little and provide the perfect habitat for beneficial insects such as spiders, ladybirds, lacewings and bees.

How to do it

  1. Nailing pieces of wood togetherMake a simple box using scraps of untreated timber approximately 2cm thick. You will need four pieces of wood of equal length for the sides and one square piece for the back. Nail them together, leaving the front end open.

  2. Sawing a bamboo caneCut hollow canes such as bamboo into short lengths to fit in your bug box. You could also drill holes in pieces of wood or branch, making your holes different sizes to suit different insects.

  3. Placing canes in the boxFit the canes and wood into your box. Insects aren't fussy so you can make your box as rough and ready as you like.

  4. Attaching bug box to a fenceDrill a hole into the back of your box and fix it on to a fence or arch using the self-tapping screw.

Adam's Tip

Adam's Tip

"Place the bug box in a sheltered spot in your garden, but don't hide it too well or the insects won't find it."

Comments and rating

Overall rating (from 5 ratings):

5 out of 5

Thank you for all the bug box info and bee hotel I have been looking for projects like this

Report this comment

You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.

Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.

This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.

I want to report this comment for:

4 out of 5

i have been every were to find projects for my grand children, and here you are. fantastic. thank you.

Report this comment

You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.

Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.

This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.

I want to report this comment for:

5 out of 5

Will definitely be making a few of these!

Report this comment

You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.

Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.

This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.

I want to report this comment for:

5 out of 5

5 out of 5

5 out of 5

iv had a allotment for 3 years now put a pond on it to bring in the wild life . grow every thing from flowers to fruit and veg .T he sun flowers have been out standing this year which will help to feed the birds threw the winter and last year saw lady bird larver for the first time i was so excited and this year can,t beleave how many lady birds there are . and now can,t wate for my husband to make the bug box

Report this comment

You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.

Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.

This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.

I want to report this comment for:

Leave a comment

Sign in to rate and add your comments to this feature.

Sign in | Register

Advertiser Links

Subscribe to the magazine

September edition of Gardeners' World Magazine

In September...
The September issue is on sale from 27 August. Subscribe today and receive five issues of Gardeners' World magazine for just £5.

The UK's number 1 gardening magazine

Gardeners' World Live

Book now for BBC Gardeners' World Live, 16-20 June 2010, NEC, Birmingham.

TV & Radio

Television icon

What's on this week

Find out what gardening programmes are on TV and radio this week. And read more about the Gardeners' World programme.

Offer

Planter

Buy 35 summer plants and get a free obelisk.

© BBC Magazines Ltd. The Gardeners' World word mark and logo are trademarks of the BBC and are used under licence.