Bug hotel in action

This sunny weather has caused a lot of activity in and around a bug hotel, made at DigIn about 2 years ago.
Its mounted on my garden shed in full sun and has been used as a nest by leaf cutter bees and mason bees.  Its easy to spot the difference between the two species; the leaf cutters use parts of leaves to seal their nesting tubes and the mason bees use mud.
The tubes have been sealed all winter and the new bees are now emerging.
See the picture and short video for some action!
You can see the tiny holes in the mud where the new bee has pushed its way out.  On the roof of the lower bug box you can see bits of mud that have fallen from the upper bug box as the new bees emerge.

Heres a short video clip... if you have trouble viewing it on Apple Mac, enable Flash for this site on your computer or use the Google Chrome browser which gives an option to use Flash on the page which has the video.

Work Party Day - Great Success!

A big thankyou to everyone who came to DigIn to help out at the work party today.  A massive amount of effort went into tackling some of the jobs that never seem to get done.
We had a fine day, both in weather - not as hot as its been recently, thankfully - and in company.
Lots of jobs were crossed off the list but there are still some left for Wednesday, so don't worry, there's still plenty to do!
We were treated to clotted cream, homemade jam & scones, doughnuts and cakes, so our efforts didn't go unrewarded - thanks folks!

Here are a few "after" pics, everywhere looks so tidy - wonder how long that will last?!

Neat path!

Anti-slip applied to decking

A mound of earth (weeded) & Bug City re-discovered

Weeded - path now visible

Mown orchard

Tidy polytunnel side

Plants ready for potting on ...

Here's a critter spotted admiring the work ... "Oh, I say, you have worked hard, I think I'll check out the bug hotel & stay a while ..."

Strangalia maculata or Leptura maculata or Longhorn beetle

Bugs Paradise

Ever wondered what to do with those hollow prunings?  We've recently pruned our Pheasant Berry shrub (Leycesteria formosa) the stems of which are hollow.  These will provide an ideal habitat for little critters to shelter in.  We have started to bundle the prunings together and will use them to form bug hotels.  So, not only will the shrub look better this coming year - it has wonderful flowers followed by berries - but will be helping biodiversity on the allotment.  Lets hope some beneficial insects take up residence!

Sunny Sunday

Such a warm and sunny Sunday after a rather windy & chilly Stapleford Carnival the day before.

Here are some pics from the allotment to show how lovely its looking at the moment.  If you haven't visited the allotment before, or for a while, and would like to come and join in with our informal gardening sessions please come along any Wednesday or Saturday morning between 10 & 12.  Just ring the doorbell on the side gate, someone will let you in.

Don't forget this year's Harvest Day event at Dig In

Saturday 24th October, 11-3pm

Ripening grapes - not ready yet

Pumpkin's filling out, hopefully ready
for Harvest Day at DigIn, 24th October

Baby newt, sunbathing

The orchard

Teasel next to the Bug Hotel - Bed & Breakfast for the bees :o)

Helen

Bugs Hotel

Chris, Claire and Gary Swain have been very busy constructing a bugs hotel from recycled palettes, next to the wildlife pond. When finished, the hotel will provide a valuable habit for beneficial insects, which in turn will assist the frogs and other amphibians reared in the adjacent pond to control our garden pests.

Other recycled material such as rolled up cardboard, hollowed out canes, straw, small logs and twigs will be added to provide cosy resting places for these creatures over the cold winter period and beyond.