New bug hotel in South Kilkeny is modelled on one of the area's most well-known structures

An eye-catching new bug hotel has been erected in South Kilkenny, modeled on one of the area's well-known features.

It's based on The ink Bottle in Belline, Piltown, which was originally a gate lodge into Belline House. Erected on the Fiddown side of the village, the main sponsors of the bug hotel, for Keep Piltown Tidy, are The John O’Shea Trust and Hickson’s Centra Piltown. 

It has a galvanised steel structure with a waterproof roof for longevity. It stands on a concrete base 2500 diameter x 4200 high/ It is divided into four equal sections to stop wind blowing through, timber poles have been inserted into a steel upright.

Top Layer – 23 Bird nest boxes, one inside each hole and sealed off from the roof space. There's one big hole to allow birds/bats into the roof space to roost/Nest.
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Next layer – behind bamboo canes – leaves, straw, pine cones, acorns, rolled cardboard and twigs. Next layer – timber logs and bamboo all above 6mm hollow bore. Also two robin nest boxes. Next layer – 650 high bricks loosely packed.

Base layer – 600 high cladded with stainless steel with 4mm gap to allow bugs to enter, while keeping out mice etc. Inside – soil and branches to allow bugs to brick, logs and leaves, pine cones, straw, rolled cardboard etc.