Make bumblebees feel at home on your patch

Stuff you'll need

• Terracotta flowerpot (greater than 20cm in diameter)
• Hosepipe (greater than 18mm in diameter and between 30-50cm long)
• Piece of slate/tile or a matching tray for the flowerpot (this will act as a rain cover for the nest)
• Handful of nesting material (ideally from an old mouse nest)
• Square of chicken wire

Bumblebees are one of the most important pollinators in our garden, it‛s never been more important to conserve and build their habitats. Whilst flowering plants and a supply of nectar and pollen are the main attraction, somewhere suitable to build a nest is just as important, especially due to habitat loss in the natural countryside.

Now thanks to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust and Hartley Botanic you can learn to build your own nest site using readily available items. Download the instructions below.