Specifications, Placement and Maintenance

Bee hotels attract tunnel-nesting solitary bees. The most basic requirements are that the bee hotel have holes ranging from about 8–16 cm (3–6 inches) deep and 3–7 mm (3/32–3/16 inches) wide. Wider tunnels should be deeper; narrower tunnels can be shorter. A range of hole sizes and depths is good for biodiversity. The number of tunnels available in your bee hotel is up to you!

Place your bee hotel off the ground, facing east or southeast so it gets morning sun, and sheltered from wind and rain. You might wish to nail a board on top of your hotel to protect it from rain. Place it somewhere it won’t get moved by the wind or people, as bees can be sensitive to movement and orientation of the hotel once they’ve settled in. Mount it to a fence, tree, or a sturdy post.

Be sure to clean and maintain your bee hotel every year - find out how in our bee hotel maintenance guide. Bee hotel maintenance kits are also available in our online shop.