The grounds of St Hilda's Church now boast a new bug hotel and two bee hotels, generously donated by Paul and Elaine Carrington. These additions were unveiled as part of an initiative to enhance the church’s support for native wildlife, providing crucial shelter and breeding spaces for solitary bees and other beneficial insects.

Following the recent Harvest Festival service, children from the Brownies and Rainbows, along with other young congregation members, took part in an activity to cover the top of the main bug hotel with soil and scatter wildflower seeds. This effort aims to foster a rich habitat for pollinators and other insects in need of safe shelter. View photos from the service.

The new bug and bee hotels are located at the bottom right of the field. Alongside existing bird boxes, these additions reflect St Hilda's commitment to encouraging biodiversity on its land, with a focus on providing a sanctuary for native species.

Further enhancing this effort, bat boxes are also set to be installed in the coming weeks, again thanks to the support of Paul Carrington.

The church encourages all visitors to report any sightings of the invasive Asian hornet, which threatens local ecosystems. Reports can be made via the Asian Hornet Watch App, available on both Android and iPhone, through an online notification form, or by emailing [email protected]. Please include a photo and the sighting location when reporting.

St Hilda’s continues its dedication to fostering a biodiverse and environmentally friendly space, inviting the community to witness the growth of these new wildlife habitats.