The eye-catching bug hotel has arrived at the Civic Centre

Designed in the shape of the Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council's logo, the eye-catching bug hotel is both a visually unique feature and a valuable wildlife resource.

Constructed using a variety of natural materials, including bamboo canes, bark, pinecones, sticks and timber, it has been carefully designed to provide shelter, nesting opportunities and overwintering habitats for a wide range of beneficial insects. Externally funded, this project didn’t require any of the Council’s budget to bring it to life.

Located within the Town ward, an area where opportunities for wildlife can be limited due to its urban nature, the installation represents a positive step towards increasing biodiversity. While these environments often lack the variety of habitats found in more rural areas, small interventions such as bug hotels can play a key role in creating valuable spaces for insects and pollinators.

Pollinators and other invertebrates are essential to healthy ecosystems, supporting wildflowers, trees and food production. However, many species continue to face pressures from habitat loss and environmental change. By introducing new wildlife features into the urban landscape, the Council is helping to create a more nature-friendly environment and improve ecological connectivity across the county borough.

The bug hotel's bamboo sections are expected to be particularly beneficial for solitary bee species. Similar installations elsewhere in the county borough have proved highly successful this year, attracting leafcutter bees and mason bees, both of which use hollow stems and tubes as nesting sites. These gentle, non-aggressive bees are among our most effective pollinators and make a significant contribution to local biodiversity.

Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Communities, Cllr David Jones said;
“This project forms part of the Council's wider commitment to nature recovery and biodiversity enhancement.

The bug hotel is another step in the right direction towards creating more space for wildlife within our town centre, as well as demonstrating that even in heavily urbanised areas, opportunities exist to support nature and help biodiversity recover.

By providing year-round shelter and nesting opportunities, the bug hotel will support a variety of species and contribute to a greener, healthier and more resilient town, benefiting both wildlife and the local community for years to come.”