Suffolk Wildlife Trust plans biggest 'bug hotel'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-29458669

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Work has begun on what is hoped will be the world's biggest 'bug hotel'.

Jason Alexander, who lives near Ipswich, is working with Suffolk Wildlife Trust to build 'Bug City', a habitat designed for insects.

He is asking children and community groups to help build parts of the structure, which will be at the trust's Foxburrow Farm site, near Woodbridge.

"It will be a safe place for insects and other animals to sleep, breed and hibernate," Mr Alexander said.

The bug hotel is being created using logs, bamboo canes, pine cones and "anything else which you may find in your garden".

Individual sections created by the volunteers will be joined together to create the hotel, which Mr Alexander says will be about 3ft (1m) high and more than 45ft (14m) long.

Guinness World Records says the largest bee house, made from bamboo, is in London and measures 42ft (13m).

Suffolk Wildlife Trust said a recently published study found about 46% of European bumblebee species were in decline, with 24% at risk of extinction.

Kerry Stranix, from the trust, said: "This project will raise awareness of the vital role played by invertebrates in our ecosystem, from pollinators to sources of food for many other species."

Work on Bug City is due to continue until February.