Protecting Our Planet
It starts in the classroom, and I love inspiring the next generation of nature lovers to learn about pollinators, native bees, urban biodiversity and indigenous knowledge. Enquire about an incursion for your school or community group.
What is a Native Bee Hotel?
Bundles of hollow stems, reeds and bamboo bee hotels:
Using bamboo, hollow reeds, and/or dead flower stems, cut them to around 200mm lengths and jam them into a pcp pipe, empty tin can, or even a plastic bottle. Ensure that they are securely in place and hang or place securely off the ground around eye level near some flowers with the hollow ends facing the N/NE.
Extra tips: use sharp secateurs to get clean cuts and avoid treated/imported bamboo as it would have been fumigated at customs.
Drilled Hardwood Bee Hotels:
Using native hardwood such as eucalyptus that is cut to around 200mm lengths, drill holes with extra-long timber drill bits. Vary the drill bits from 3-9mm in diameter to cater for a range of different sized native bees. Attach wire/string and hang or place securely about eye level off the ground near some flowers with the drilled holes facing the N/NE.
Extra tips: avoid treated wood, hang securely so the hotel doesnβt swing, and smooth the entrances with sandpaper.
Ground Nesting Bee Hotels:
Using a mix of clay and sand, pack into something like concrete besser blocks or any durable container. Use the tip of a pencil or a stick to poke small holes and place them horizontally on the ground in an area that receives plenty of sun, usually the northern aspect of a building/garden.
Extra tips: leave patches of un-mulched bare ground in the garden, and place these types of hotels in aggregations as blue banded bees like to live near each other.
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