Thank you so much - they don't have to be this size of course but I think they make a great feature in a garden and they attract a lot of insects so desperately in need of hiding places now :) I really appreciate your support - best wishes, Joel
Haha, that made me laugh Kevin! It's quite a fancy one for sure, but a lot of clients want these as show pieces too and as long as they're practical and of benefit to wildlife I'm all for it ;) Great news for Wembley, you're obviously doing something right - best wishes, Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton The Welsh harp environmental education centre(fantastic place) has beehives. There's a garden centre beside it and that's where the bees forage. Muntjac deer survive here also.
So much love and care went into making this haven for bugs. It made me so happy watching this. Every time I watch one of your videos it gives me more ideas of things to do in my own gardens this year. Thank you!
You're very welcome Liz - this is what the channel was started for, to encourage others to enjoy what gardening for wildlife can bring :) So glad you enjoyed this one - best wishes, Joel
Absolutely brilliant, Joel. Took a while till I watched the video as I was busy on Friday so tired 🥱. Saw a 🦊 in broad daylight in a farmers 👩🏻🌾 field with a 🚜 in the next field not faraway from the sea . Hubby does the driving 🚗 & then he saw a Buzzard on a small fence. So much beauty around . Your RU-vid channel is just brilliant. 👍🏻 video 😊
Thank you Meg, very much :) it's a lovely centre piece for the garden, I'll be uploading the full transformation video in early Summer to show the garden completely established - best wishes, Joel
Brillant and inspirational, it looks like a piece of artwork in the garden too! Beneficial to insects and other wildlife and a real conversation piece when you have visitors, great idea! 👍
Thank you - we had visitors nosing about before the cement in the brick joints had fully dried! ;) They're great and of course don't have to be on this level, just refuge but I agree that these ones are certainly conversation starters and we've done a lot in the last few years. Thanks for your kind words - best wishes, Joel
Hi Mark - thank you :) I'll be uploading the full transformation video for this garden in early summer hopefully - it was built last year but just need to get footage of it a year later as I know people like to see the transformations a few months after, just got to get back to London in amongst a pretty hefty workload ;) Best wishes - Joel
Thank you - I agree absolutely re formal gardens being able to cater for wildlife just the same, we have to get away from this view that "wild means messy" as it's definitely not the case, as is proven in many of the gardens I design, our native wildflowers (the parents of many of our beloved garden plants) are just as beautiful and far more effective at bringing rewards - best wishes as always - Joel
Thank you - they certainly do by all accounts :) Hope to go back and film the whole garden in early summer so I can show it established now :) Best wishes - Joel
Absolutely amazing!!! What I love is we can make smaller versions of this and still incorporate all your ideas. Plus, it is so cool that we can reuse & up-cycle some items like pine cones, old bricks, and logs to build something for little cost.
Thank you Michelle and this is the beauty of making these habitats, they don't have to be detailed or grand in design, just refuge for many insects so desperately in need right now from leaf piles to log piles to even roof tiles laid down for refuge for frogs and toads - so glad you enjoyed this - best wishes, Joel
Exactly! However, I don't think many bugs have occupied mine (after 2 years). 🤨 so after seeing Joel's video, I'm going to make some modifications to mine and add a sedum topping to see if that attracts a few more. 👍🙂
I once filled someone else’s insect hotel with saw bamboo. I had no idea how much bamboo a hotel could swallow… and all the bamboo was sawn by hand. It was like filling a Blue Whale’s mouth one krill at a time. And then because they were so pleased with the result, they gave me another three to fill. Ah, the joys of being a volunteer.
That's fantastic! My bee hotel has several guests, to my amazement (native resin bees). Your design really is a bit of art and I'm sure will inspire thousands of people to copy and adapt the design for their own gardens. Well done Joel !
Thank you Alison, I'll try to do a compilation of the many that have been made so far if I get a chance but I've got circa 50 videos to still upload yet! Great news re the resin bees, you lucky lady! Not sure if you've seen the other one in the garden I designed that featured on BBC Gardener's World but you might like this one too for now, it's slightly different: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-2LJ66esN-SQ.html Thanks for your support - it means a lot :)
Thank you so much - I absolutely agree, it's trying to relay the message that wild doesn't necessarily mean messy at all - I have to say that in the 17 years I've been doing this now, I have certainly seen an upsurge in interest in gardening/designing this way and I hope it continues - the great community we have on here and the new subscribers each day fills me with great hope that the message is continuing to spread :) Best wishes, as always - Joel
You're the reason it's featuring Karlito :) Glad you enjoyed this - they don't have to be of this size or style, even a pile of leaves can be effective for a lot of creatures - let me know how you get on - best wishes, Joel
Bloody hell that was fast Joel 😁 Seriously though that's a work of art. Can you imagine how many insects could potentially benefit from it. Great work mate. Hope you and your family are well 👍
I wish I could really go this fast, would get through the work quicker! ;) Thanks so much Mick, we've made many of these, each different and according to the clients needs and space available, I think they make a great talking piece, aside from the benefits they bring - we're doing fine, hope you are too - best wishes, Joel
Haha, thanks so much Elizabeth - so many videos to upload but this garden was filmed from beginning to end, I just need to go back this early summer and film the final part, ie it a year on :) Best wishes, and thanks again for your support - Joel
Thank you Tracey - this is part of a larger garden transformation carried out last year, I do intent (if time allows!) to go back early summer and take the final footage so I can upload a complete transformation and then how it looks a year on - really appreciate your support - best wishes, Joel
Wow - I had passed this one by as I thought I knew about insect hotels, but I'm glad you brought me back around - very impressive and a proper feature as many have said. Nice combination of formal and natural styles in the design.
Thanks Norman :) Glad you enjoyed this, we've done many larger insect hotels now, all slightly different and all depending on the reclaim and, in this case the wonderful large bamboo canes the clients had stored in the garden for many years, not quite knowing what to do with them :) Best wishes - Joel
Thank you :) Really appreciate that - I hope it encourages more insect hotels in people's gardens as they're so important and of course don't have to be this level to be effective and provide vital habitat :) Best wishes, as always - Joel
Thank you - I've still got to go back and film the garden in early summer this year, it was completed last year and a wonderful transformation, but I know people like to see them after a year so I have to wait to do all the hours of editing and include the "after"! ;) Wish me luck! Best wishes - Joel
Thanks Tiago appreciated :) I'm sure you know already that they don't have to be large or fancy, just contain the right materials for homes to be made. You're already reaping the rewards for your efforts :) Best wishes - Joel
Looks beautiful! But aren't the holes a bit big? There seems to be a lack of small 3-6 mm holes used by tons of bees and wasps. And the logs seem to be freshly cut. When they dry out the cracks will make a lot of holes unusable.
Thank you :) This is a general insect hotel, for ladybirds, spiders, earwigs, centipedes, lace-wings, woodlice etc - we did install a specific bee hotel, similar to this one here which caters for all solitary bees :) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-TXdGI1PS5EU.html Hope this helps - they're really simple to make - best wishes, Joel
I *think* I filmed that bit too but this is part of a much more detailed video to come of a complete garden transformation, I just need to get back and do an update for early summer as I know people like to see the transformations a year after they've been installed - if not I'll try to find time to do a video when we next make one, there have been loads made but there will be more to come no doubt :) Thanks Becky, really glad you liked this - best wishes, Joel
Hi Joel, I wonder if you are able to provide some additional details of this wonderful Bug Hotel in the information and links below the video post? It would be helpful to know; 1. Where the bamboo canes can be sourced (normal garden canes would seem too small), 2. The diameter and depth of the holes drilled in the logs, 3. The diameter of the holes in the brick and whether they go right through the brick and whether you just leave a hollow cavity behind. I know I'm asking a lot, but I think this information would help others inspired to create something similar in their own garden. Thanks in anticipation.
Hi Kevin - thank you. This Insect Hotel was made with a lot of reclaim materials from my yard, and the canes were actually a batch of old ones that the client had in the garden that we adapted so they could be recycled. As for the holes in the bricks/logs, they ranged from 7mm to 12mm, to cater for different species. The holes were approximately 50-60mm deep. I have never made one Insect Hotel alike as we prefer to use reclaim materials and different designs for each client to suit the area and style to suit the current garden - I hope this helps - again no bug hotel has to be this detailed or this size, we've made much larger and even smaller in the past, it's the environment for the insects that counts :) best wishes, Joel
Do you have Joel's book Kevin? I can highly recommend it for information such as this - it's a really inspirational read. It's available from Amazon and the Wild Your Garden website. I am planning to incorporate a bug hotel into my garden this year, sadly it won't be as spectacular as this! best wishes, Suzanne
@@suzannebramble6564 Hi Suzanne, I do have the book and it helped me create a wildlife pond and some other habitats. I agree that the book and Joel's RU-vid videos are very inspirational. Take care Kevin
@@suzannebramble6564 Thank you Suzanne, I really appreciate this - just to say though that I am 100% positive your insect hotel will make a huge difference to a lot of insects, remember it's not the size but the refuge it provides :) Best wishes - Joel
Thank you Kevin - this is one of many, but as I've said a few times, they don't have to be this fancy or this size, it's just a refuge for so many insects in need :) I really appreciate your kind words and encouragement - best wishes - Joel
Great video .. will be making one this year for sure ,,, please can you do a video on living roofs ... was thinking of putting London pride for a roof is that ok ....
Hi Kevin, thank you. Saxifraga x urbium which is of course London Pride should do well on a living roof, I've not used it on any yet. Due to my workload at the moment I won't be able to take time out to do a living roof video, as soon as one is lined up for a client this year then I will of course take footage though and upload for you :) Best wishes - Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton , cheers for info on Saxifraga x urbium have tons in the garden,, great wee plant ... will give this ago at some point on a roof .. keep up the great work learning a lot ...
You are really spoiling us with a lot of content lately!! Is it that spring is around the corner? Is it best to put insect hotels facing south/east.. or is it the same? Lovely built and the video, an absolute treat. Thanks! (Edit for a last minute question 😜)
Thank you so much - someone requested that I do a video of a bug hotel and it reminded me that I'd taken footage of this one last year - there have been many more of course and I hope to find the time to do an instructional one as soon as I get a chance - thanks so much for your kind words and support - best wishes, Joel
A very impressive posh bug hotel. The bugs will be going in with all their Gucci and Armani gear 😀 Loved watching that Joel👌🏻 Wasn’t that the boggy garden ?
Hi George - thank you, glad you enjoyed this :) This particular hotel was in the garden in London, I've filmed the whole transformation but need to get back in early summer to take the "final" video of it, showing how it looks a year on - the recent bog garden was in Surrey :) Hope you're doing well - best wishes, Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton all well Joel I think this video that I referred to as the bog garden was the in Finchley. It was raining heavy but I remember all them slatted fence panels.
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshtonfound it. It was the North London garden that I referred to as the mud pit. So happy seeing it at this stage and can’t wait to see it blossom fully in the summer 👌🏻
@@george-1961 That's the one George - seems a lifetime ago now as there have been so many more since - but I know people like seeing the transformations a year or so on, just thought if I wait until this early summer before doing the final video I can collate everything and show it in one go :) Well remembered though! Best wishes - Joel
So inspirational! I’ve built my pond thanks to you so this may well be next, you do keep me busy!! One question, do insect hotels need any maintenance, or do the insects do the housekeeping as well? Many thanks Joel, you really are my garden hero!
Hi there Jools :) Sounds like you've probably been busy this weekend! It's best to keep an eye on the hotels, the insects will do a lot of the maintenance and remember that there will be insect/larvae/eggs "hibernating" over the winter, but it's checking for "mould" and similar stuff in the straw and loose materials that's important, this can easily be replaced of course :) Hope you've enjoyed this long weekend - best wishes to you and yours, Joel
Wow. Loved this video (just catching up with missed videos). This is one of the projects I am planning for this year, although it won't be as grand as this. I think the place I would like to build it won't be suitable. It is the south end of a north facing garden but underneath a large silver birch. It would look lovely there but probably not the right place maybe? Take care
Hey Suzanne :) So glad I'm keeping you amused on these colder evenings! The site you're thinking of will be absolutely suitable, it will be warm and as you already know Silver Birch don't cast much full shade and will allow heat through, a lot of insects will absolutely find this a fantastic refuge - I will expect photos of this via email you know ;) Best wishes - Joel
Last year I bought 4 bug hotels put them up in the garden and they where quite busy mainly wasps but recently I checked them and they were empty but all of them had spiders webbs on them so I wonder if that's why nothing else is using them
Hi Paul - I must admit that in the past I have been "gifted" one or two "mass produced" small fancy bug hotels and whilst they can be aesthetically pleasing they don't always have the right size of holes and apertures for specific species, usually made in high numbers and to a standard pattern, you can see them almost anywhere these days. Mine too used to have a high number of spider webs unfortunately and by nature they will catch insects of course. That's not to say they don't work in some cases and provide refuge (even for spiders who play a great part!) but the most important thing is to site them in full sun - facing south or south-east. Not trying to give you extra jobs to do (!) but sourcing your own materials gives you peace of mind that your insect hotel is made of natural, untreated wood and without chemicals such as varnish, paint and wood protectant that will repel insects. Recycled materials also helps with sustainability. Sorry for the long-winded answer but I wanted to make sure I'd given as much info as possible :) Hope this helps - best wishes, Joel
Haha! Thank you, so much - really appreciated, we've done a lot of these now, never exactly the same but we try to use materials already found in the client's garden and of course my reclaim yard - they are a fantastic "centre piece" for a garden :) Best wishes - Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton They truly are that, a center piece. If you have photos to put together of the ones you've made, I'd love to see that video, even if it's just a few mins long.
@@itsmewende Will do - as soon as I get a chance :) I know one of them features in this video with another garden makeover - apologies if you've seen it already of course: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Ubu3BbkACoY.html Best wishes - Joel
Not just the hotel, but the garden is a lovely design also. Well done! Just a quick question though. How do these bug hotels go for pest wasp infestations?
Hi Simon, thanks so much for your support and encouragement, it does make a difference :) Do you mean parasitic wasps and the likes? They of course will hunt out hosts as they would do in any natural setting, but this is a general insect hotel rather than one for bees specifically - I have made a short video on an easy but effective bee hotel. With general wasps, ie those that annoy people when eating sweet things outside (!) they won't generally be attracted to these habitats, making their own "houses" but of course will hunt the garden for caterpillars and larvae. I do hope this helps but if I've not answered the question effectively, please do let me know :) Best wishes, and thanks again - Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Thanks so much for replying so quickly, Joel. Yes, that answered my question. I had in mind those gate-crashing European wasps. I understand they're native (in some places anyway) and certainly have their place, but I wouldn't want a nest in my garden! Keep up the great work. Cheers, Simon.
Not this one you won't!🤣 seriously though, they're a great habitat, and as is oft said "size doesn't matter" - hope this inspires you to indulge in one - best wishes, Joel
Thank you, I know how vital this plant is to the Monarch's in US, but although it's not native to the UK I am really tempted to try this and see which of our species are attracted to it - thank you and best wishes, Joel
They are indeed Ruth, but also leaf-cutter bees would utilise these holes too, amongst other small insects trying to find refuge or shelter, ladybirds for example, lace-wings etc - best wishes, Joel
No problem, there are a fair few comments to trawl through on most videos (not a complaint!) but please just shout if you have a question - best wishes - Joel
@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton cheers Joe would like to know more about the paths you have put in here - some sort of compacted substrate? any videos in the pipeline for these?
@@robertsmithshair4199 Absolutely "Mr Hair" (!) - this insect hotel features as part of the complete garden transformation in London last year - I'm hoping to return in early summer so I can show it a year on and do one whole video of the transformation :) Won't be too long, but lots of transformations to upload in the meantime - thanks, best wishes - Joel
