New home for insects at Park School

THE Park School in Yeovil opened its gates to some new arrivals as Neil Macdonald, of Orchard Pig Groundforce, from West Bradley near Glastonbury, helped the children to build a 'bug hotel' in a quiet part of the school grounds.

Mr Macdonald said: "The children built what I call a high-rise apartment block for insects and small creatures. Every class in the Junior School helped to create the habitat for beetles, bees, spiders and all sorts of creepy crawlies.

“We collected wood and bricks and building materials from around the grounds, the children brought materials to recycle and the school even found us some old text books!

“The children were really enthusiastic and each class contributed a storey to the hotel. It will provide a safe place for the creatures to overwinter, reproduce and bring up their families, and it will improve the biodiversity of the whole area."

The bug hotel is in a quiet corner of the school grounds which has been set aside as a garden in memory of Stuart McInnes, a pupil of the school.

His mother, Sue McInnes, said: ''Stuey loved nature and we were delighted when the school set up a wildlife garden in his memory, to help to connect future generations with the natural world.  

“Building a bug hotel was a great way to get all the children involved and let them experience nature at first hand. There were squeals of delight as stones were turned over to reveal different creatures including big fat slugs, woodlice and newts. It was a very special day for us and lots of fun for the children."

The garden and the bug hotel are already attracting interest from the whole school. As the months progress children will have the opportunity to observe the seasonal changes in nature, learn about wildlife and keep up with the comings and goings at the five star bug hotel.

PHOTO: The finished bug hotel with Year Six, Sue McInnes (left), Neil Macdonald and Park School headteacher Jane Huntingdon.

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