PUPILS at a Yate school were inspired to build their own bug hotel after seeing one at a park in town.

Following a visit to Kingsgate Park, Yate, students from St Paul’s Catholic Primary School set to work.

The Key Stage 2 Outdoor Learning Group, which consists of pupils from Year 4, 5 and 6, spent time planning, designing and finally building their bug hotel.

The main structure of the bug hotel has been constructed from pallets and bricks organised into layers. These materials were donated to the school by Uplands Construction based in Emersons Green, Bristol.

The layers are designed to attract a range of different insects. Some, such as ladybirds hibernate over winter and need somewhere safe and dry to hide.

Mrs Helen Clements, teacher in charge of the project said: “The children are delighted with the results and are looking forward to checking for evidence of  more ‘guests’ soon.

"The bug hotel is situated in the garden and pond area of the school and we hope to also attract frogs in the especially designed frog holes- stone and tiles have been used as these provide the cool damp conditions amphibians need. They will be able to breed in the nearby pond.  

"Beetles, centipedes, spiders and woodlice have all been spotted in the decaying wood and bark. Woodlice and millipedes help to break down woody plant material. They are essential parts of the garden recycling system.”

The redevelopment of the school's garden area has also benefited from donations from Hollisters, Station Road, Yate, who have provided railway sleepers to repair raised flower beds.