Listening to the lazy buzz of bees and gentle hum of winged visitors among the flowers while you relax in your garden is one of the delights of spring and summer. And there are many ways you can encourage more wildlife into your garden, including giving them a cosy place to hunker down when they're not busy in your garden promoting pollination and munching on pests. When it comes to chic cribs for critters, we've got you and your garden guests covered...
Shop our pick of stylish wildlife houses
Buzzworthy lodgings
gardenwildlife.com
A modern take on the traditional style skeps used for managing bees in the early days of beekeeping, fill this natural seagrass design with twigs and sticks, place in a sheltered spot off soft ground and anchor with tent pegs. H40cm.
High ball
www.greenandblue.co.uk
Hang from a branch or wall mount for safe nesting for a variety of tits. Dia18cm.
Cosy cocoon
spana.org
Lovingly crafted by female artisans in Bangladesh from recycled sari fabric, this colourful nester can be hung using the rope or by the sturdy hook on the back. H21cm.
Hive hotel
www.vidaxl.co.uk
Give wild bees, digger wasps and mason bees the five-star treatment with this partly varnished sturdy pine wood Trixie Bee Hotel, L30 x W35 x H12cm.
Designer digs
www.rhsplants.co.uk
Bury in a quiet sheltered spot, pile around leaves and short grass, and hogs will soon move into this frost-resistant hand-thrown terracotta Hedgehog House/Pot, W33cm.
Quirky quarters
www.tompress.co.uk
Ooh la la, filled with hay, dead leaves, nettles or straw, this French-made shelter will keep beneficial aphid-munchers warm and dry in winter and in wet and windy weather. H16.5 x Dia13cm, £33.32 tompress.co.uk
7.
Schwegler 2F
Bat cave
www.arkwildlife.co.uk
Snacking on flies, mosquitoes and other bugs, bats are guests we’re more than happy to share our gardens with. Made from weatherproof woodcrete, this bat box* can be hung on a wall or tree. H35 x Dia16.5cm. *Inspection & cleaning of an occupied bat box must be carried out by a licensed professional
Ladies room
www.keengardener.co.uk
Layer with leaves, and aphid-loving ladybirds will be queuing up to hibernate in this weatherproof Fallen Fruits Ladybird House, H22cm.
Potty pad
www.vinehousefarm.co.uk
Place this frost-resistant ceramic house in shade close to a pond or damp area and pest-eating frogs and toads will soon be kicking back, safe from predators and garden tools.
Home from home
Non-swarming summer-flower-pollinating solitary bees will love nesting in these honeycomb-shaped Modular Solitary Bee Houses, W21cm.