I'd go ahead and build something What materials do you have?
Anything you can make with nooks and crannies will attract something - woodlice, spiders etc, they still form part of the food chain, but wouldn't bother with buying the pre-made things in the garden centre. The canes are mainly used by solitary bees but there are plenty of other things to attract as well or that will bbe looking for overwintering spots in time. The insects are getting more active now so you might want to put something in soon to get used this year.
Send some pics or a list of what materials you've got n I'm sure you'll get some ideas back.
Remember you can collect things too like fallen sticks or old hollow plant stems to fill some spaces and try to use untreated wood if you're using timber.
I just have lots of places that can be used for insects and other wildlife. When I cut down things like lilies when the main stalks are done, I break those up and chuck them in at the back of borders. Little piles of twigs etc - all provide a bit of habitat. I made a hog house a few years ago as we had some displaced ones using the garden. I left a camera there for a while, and it was populated by bees, so I made a similar, but smaller 'house' with a little window opening for them [removeable lid for clearing it out] and added some of the hay that had been in the hog house. No bees - but soon used by wasps. Had a lovely nest in it that I removed later on. Great for the spiders, beetles etc too. Some bees were using a little bank of old turf beside it, to burrow into. I also use things like broken clay pots turned upside down and shoved at the foot of shrubs etc, which can provide a safe space for frogs and other insects.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I just keep a small pile of logs and off cuts from tree pruning. I did invest in a largish block of woo which my husband helped me to drill holes in for a solitary bee house , but apart from that I just grow a lot of daisy shaped flowers ,single dahlias . Open type roses ,chives etc . My garden last year was a- buzz with all manner of flying stuff and the grandson found plenty of bugs and beetles on the wood pile .
I totally get your reasoning and you can't help but want to try and make a difference and it is difficult to know what to do for the best. I took this picture today - was going for the butterfly but a pair of bees photo bombed it, they seem to be enjoying the bee house!
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What materials do you have?
Anything you can make with nooks and crannies will attract something - woodlice, spiders etc, they still form part of the food chain, but wouldn't bother with buying the pre-made things in the garden centre. The canes are mainly used by solitary bees but there are plenty of other things to attract as well or that will bbe looking for overwintering spots in time. The insects are getting more active now so you might want to put something in soon to get used this year.
Send some pics or a list of what materials you've got n I'm sure you'll get some ideas back.
Remember you can collect things too like fallen sticks or old hollow plant stems to fill some spaces and try to use untreated wood if you're using timber.
I made a hog house a few years ago as we had some displaced ones using the garden. I left a camera there for a while, and it was populated by bees, so I made a similar, but smaller 'house' with a little window opening for them [removeable lid for clearing it out] and added some of the hay that had been in the hog house. No bees - but soon used by wasps. Had a lovely nest in it that I removed later on.
Great for the spiders, beetles etc too. Some bees were using a little bank of old turf beside it, to burrow into.
I also use things like broken clay pots turned upside down and shoved at the foot of shrubs etc, which can provide a safe space for frogs and other insects.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...