Build your own bumblebee castle

First the wooden boards have to be cut to size. The easiest way to do this is with a jigsaw.

The following cuts are required:

• 1 x ?00x?00cm for the roof
• 2 x 36x2cm for the roof strips
• 3 x 40x40cm for the side walls and the floor
• 2 x 40x36.4cm for the front and back walls
• 2 x 30x3cm for the floor strips
• 4 x 4x4cm for the feet
• 2 x 5x4cm for the entrance
• 2 x 10x4cm for the entrance

It is advisable to pre-drill the holes for the screws to avoid tearing the wood. The side walls are then screwed to the base plate with three screws each. The front and back are also attached.

Now the small feet can be attached to the outside of the bottom of the wooden box with wood glue, the roof strips to the roof, and the floor strips to the inside of the floor. While the glue dries, there is time to prepare the entrance hole. To do this, drill holes in a circle in the wood. After the center has been broken out, the edges are smoothed with a wooden file. Please note that the hole corresponds to the size of the pipe that will later form the entrance.

The individual parts of the frame for the entrance are glued together and positioned around the entrance hole. Once the wood glue has dried, the bumblebee castle should be painted with an insect-friendly protective glaze. There are no limits to your imagination when it comes to color design. When the paint has dried, the interior work begins.

Cut a hole in the cardboard box to match the diameter of the pipe. The pipe should connect the entrance hole to the inside of the box and end just above the ground. For thermal insulation, fill the space between the wooden and cardboard box with straw. Then generously cover the bottom of the box with a mixture of fresh pet litter and used mouse litter. Pile towards the sides so that a clear hollow forms in the middle of the box. Line this with hamster wool and form a small cave.

If the Bumblebee Castle is not installed under a roof, you will need a water-repellent roof cover. We have a tin roof on ours Bees borrowed. Roofing felt can also be nailed to the roof of the Hummelburg or a plexiglass pane can be used.

We look forward to receiving photos of your bumblebee castles.