Give your hotel a good home

Where you place your pollinator hotel can make a difference to the chances of it being discovered and used.

Choose a sunny, sheltered spot and fix the hotel securely so that it doesn't swing or wobble. Ideally, the nesting tubes should face south or south-east, where they can benefit from the warmth of the morning sun.

Try to keep the hotel protected from heavy rain, with the entrance clear and easy for visiting insects to reach.

Your booklet contains the quick-start positioning guide - once your hotel is in place, you can leave it there and start watching for signs of activity.

Explore your pollinator hotel

  • Nesting Tubes

    The hollow tubes provide spaces where suitable solitary bees can build their nests. Different species can prefer different-sized openings, so a variety of suitable tube sizes can provide opportunities for more than one kind of visitor.

  • A Closer Look

    Each nesting tube may tell a different story. Watch the entrances over time and you may begin to notice bees investigating particular tubes, carrying materials inside or changes appearing around the openings.

  • Shelter & Structure

    The hotel helps keep the nesting tubes together in a stable, sheltered space. Its roof provides additional protection from the weather, while secure positioning helps keep potential nesting sites still and undisturbed.

What should you look for?

  • Visitors Investigating

    Watch for insects exploring the entrances to the nesting tubes. A bee may inspect several different spaces before deciding whether one is suitable for nesting.

  • Nesting Activity

    Repeated visits to the same tube can be a sign that a bee is nesting. You may see her returning with pollen or nesting materials as she builds and provisions the nest.

  • Sealed Nesting Holes

    A sealed entrance can be an exciting sign that a nest has been completed. Different bees may use different materials to close their nests. Leave sealed tubes undisturbed - developing young may be safely tucked away inside.

Your hotel through the year

Your pollinator hotel may look quiet at different times of year, but that doesn't necessarily mean nothing is happening.

Activity is most noticeable during the warmer months, when you may see solitary bees investigating tubes, building nests and sealing completed nesting spaces. Later in the year, occupied tubes may remain sealed while the next generation develops inside.

Try not to move or disturb occupied nesting tubes, even when the hotel appears inactive. Your booklet's seasonal guide shows you what else you might notice around your Pollinator Patch as the year changes.

Give your visitors some space

One of the best ways to enjoy your pollinator hotel is simply to watch.

Observe activity from a short distance and avoid handling bees or investigating inside nesting tubes. If you find a sealed entrance, don't open it to see what's inside — eggs, larvae or developing bees may be protected within the nest.

You can still get a closer look without interfering. Watch which tubes visitors choose, what they carry with them and how the entrances change over time. These small observations can tell you a surprising amount about what's happening in your hotel.