A SIMPLE EASTER ACTIVITY: BUILD YOUR OWN BEE HOTEL
Looking for something simple to keep the kids entertained over the Easter holidays? Building a bee hotel is an easy, low-cost activity that’s not only fun, but also supports your local environment.
Unlike honey bees, which live together in large hives, many wild bees are solitary. That means they don’t have a colony to return to and instead look for small, safe spaces to lay their eggs. Sadly, modern gardens and urban spaces don’t always offer enough of these natural nesting spots, which is where a bee hotel can make a real difference.
The good news is you can build one in just an hour or two using things you might already have at home. Follow the instructions below, but for a step by step guide with pictures and more info, go to justbeehoney.co.uk/bee-hotel 😊
What you’ll need:
- An empty tin, small box or plastic bottle
- Hollow stems, bamboo canes or rolled cardboard tubes
- String or twine
- Scissors
Simple steps
- Cut your bamboo or cardboard into equal lengths, around 10 to 15 cm.
- Pack them tightly into your container so there are plenty of small tunnels.
- Make sure the ends are smooth and not blocked.
- Tie some string around your container so you can hang it.
- Place it in a sunny, sheltered spot, ideally near flowers.
That’s it. You’ve created a safe place for wild bees to nest over the coming months. It’s a great way to spend a few hours outdoors with children or grandchildren, and it naturally opens up conversations about nature, pollination and why small actions matter. And remember to keep a close eye on it… You should spot bees moving in as the weather warms up.
We’d love to hear the ways you’re helping biodiversity and natural habitats thrive so we can share inspiration with the Just Bee community. Drop us a line at buzz@justbeehoney.co.uk.
5 comments
Thank u a realy intreasting news from the hive cake looks good to iv got bug hotels up whitch seem to be in use but iv now decided to pop a couple hidden in the bushes ..we where watching this hugh fluffy bee walking near the pond im trying to sort and my friend was worred as it was walking and walking so i gently let it go on a leaf on my hand it stayed investgating f a few moments then i was just going to pop in dorn on the grass and it flew of on to the grass and of on its walk again .it seemed fine so maybe it was going toto a home somewhere around the pond .i dont know enough about them but with the info iv got from u and the fluffy bundle il now put a coupld of hotels in the bushes .thank u Happy Easter To u all
Shirley alexon
Have had two Bee hotels on the side of our garage for 20 years+. They have been in constant use ever since. I remember that bees started using them very soon after they were installed. 🐝🍯
Dave Wood
Be better to show a drawing or photograph of the Bee hotel to see what it should look like.
Brian
Hi Joe ,last summer I had my own bee farm on my front lawn where from the beginning of may till the end of September I didn’t mow therefore attracted Bees , butterflies and grasshoppers which we had great fun with esp when jumping on us and just basically enjoying the bee farm , However at mid math we have had quite a few bumbles on the lawn already ! Have they remembered the bee farm from last year maybe ? Just planted my wild flower seeds this morning and will be loading up with lavender over the coming weeks Thanks Joe best wishes Mark Lindley, Sheffield
Mark lindley
Thanks for information – very interesting. Also for the recipe and how to make the bee hotel
Linda Deighton
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