Tin Can Home, for Bugs & Insects!

Build a safe home for your local bug and insect community, suitable for any sized garden, roof or balcony. Hideaways for small insects and bugs can be difficult to find in our gardens and outdoor areas, and one like this could provide an important shelter for ladybirds, beetles, woodlice, lacewings, solitary bees & bumblebees. This project requires very few resources, all you will need is:

An empty tin can
Dead, hollow stems cut from herbaceous plants and shrubs (for beetles, spiders & woodlice)
If you have any nearby, hollow  bamboo canes work really well too
Cardboard (for lacewings)
Dry leaves, grasses and straw (for ladybirds)
String (if you want to tie your new bug and insect home up.
Scissors and some secateurs if you have them.

Once you have foraged about for some suitable materials, start by cutting your sticks to size, you want to collect enough so that you can pack them tightly together inside the tin. If you want to add any cardboard, roll up some narrow pieces and wedge these in between the sticks. If you have any grass or old leaves you can also layer these in between the sticks and cardboard. You could also add a layer of moss, dry leaves or straw at the bottom of the can, these materials can all mimic the forest floor for your bugs and insects.

When you have finished making your bug and insect home find a quiet corner somewhere to hide it.
Enjoy!.