Georgina,Not being particularly helpful, but bug hotels don't work very well....Sheffield University did a study and found that they were rarely used by the insects they were supposed to support. Areas of long grass, nettles, log piles, stones, heaps of leaves, a pond that is easy for wildlife to get into (and out of again), and (most of all) a compost heap, were the best for insects. One thing that did work was a block of wood with lots of holes in it (with a variety of different diameters), which were colonised by solitary bees. You could also plant a loggery (upright logs of different diameters planted in the earth), which is needed for stag beetles (an endangered species nationally, but locally fairly healthy).If you want to buy someone something wildlife friendly, bird and bat boxes are good, as would a variety of bare root native plants to create a hedge (great for birds). Or how about a trail cam (if whoever you are gifting it to might like to observe the wildlife in their garden).
David Fox ● 2181d