For the latest session of our Outdoor Classroom at the Spinney Bell Meadow, the pre-school children had a fascinating time learning about the different insects we could find living in the garden. They each shared what insects they had found in their garden such as worms and ants and were shown pictures of insects and bugs that they may not have come across before, and what to look out for.

We then talked about what our favourite insects were, with the top choice being worms closely followed by Ladybirds, and then looked at where insects live, what they eat, which ones can fly and which prefer to live in dark, sheltered places. The different types of insects fascinated the children and when we asked if they would like to make a place for the insects to stay, such as a ‘Bug Hotel’ they were very excited. Firstly, we looked at the type of Bug Hotel we could make in our garden and what materials we think the insects would like. We then talked about what insects we think would stay in the hotel and then set about making it.

It was great fun as the children got involved with filling the structure with various materials including plants pots, bamboo, rotting wood
and fir cones and they were very happy to spot that the rotten wood actually already had Woodlice on it, so they became our first residents.

Then they were off on a bug hunt where they found some small beetles and a worm that was added to the muddy part of the hotel, which made the children very happy, and they are all looking forward to regularly checking the hotel for more newcomers over the next few months and looking after it! They even decided that to make it look nice they would colour some pictures of insects in and decorate the area with them

So, for those bugs that are looking for somewhere to stay for their summer holidays then come down to ‘The Spinney Day Bell Meadow Bug House’, we are well and truly open!