A castle built for bugs

Young children at Everton Nursery School and Family Centre have created their very own bug castle as part of an exciting eco initiative with the early year’s team from John Moores University.

The bug castle is a man-made structure built from materials such as wooden pallets, carpet tubes and logs.
The castle, as designed by the children, has several different sections that provide both mini beast and animals such as hedgehogs with nesting.

Children used information texts and the internet to research different types of homes such as hotels, caravans and castles.

The children worked collaboratively to rename the structure from a bug house, to a ‘bug castle’.

The children have worked alongside the students from John Moores University to develop their wood work skills using a range of tools including saws, hammers and screw drivers to create nesting logs to be placed inside the bug castle.

Jamie Wilson, deputy headteacher at Everton Nursery School and Family Centre said: “Sustainability and the environment is an important part of learning for us here at Everton and we’re always keen to get involved in any project that introduces new elements of nature to our pupils.

“We have a great relationship with Liverpool John Moores following completion of the bird hide project last year and the idea of following it up with the bug castle was welcomed by us all.”

Now complete, the children are able to observe the bugs in their natural habitat which will promote discussion around nature, exploration and the idea of eco sustainability.

Nicky Hirst and Diane Boyd, senior lecturers in early year’s at Liverpool John Moores University said: “The aim of the project is in line with the LJMU strategy to work collaboratively with the community and as we have a very good relationship with Everton Nursery School and Family Centre we have worked with them to develop bug hotels in their grounds.”