‘Bee B&B’ is a lovely outdoor activity suitable for young children of all abilities. The aim of Bee B&B is to combine natural materials into a home for the little bees. This allows children to better understand nature, their environment and to express their creativity.
Resources
- Hollow Stems or Elder Stems (to hollow out)
- Plant Pot/s (clay not plastic)
- Stones
- Wire Rod/Skewer
- Scissors/Secateurs
Explanation
Collect lots of dried out, hollow stems and pack them into an old terracotta plant pot (a plastic one might get blown around too much). You will need to cut or break the stems to the right length and pack them tightly so they don’t fall out, but not so tight that they get squashed. Make sure you seal one end of the stems with mud.
Find a spot that doesn’t get too wet and make a little ‘nest’ for your pot using a pile of stones. Place it so the open end is pointing downwards slightly, otherwise when it rains it will fill with water. It’s also good to put it in a place where it will catch a bit of winter sun rather than in total shade.
You can also drill holes into small/big logs to have the same desired effect. This can be done by using either a hand held or mechanical drill.
Safety Tips
Make sure your adhering to the best practise with regard to group management around the woodland and tool safety.