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Build ladybirds a home

Create a safe and warm home for ladybirds, whether in your garden or in a community space.

Last edited: 21/03/2025

Before you get started

Why this is important

Ladybirds are not just lovely to look at, they’re also great garden helpers! They eat aphids and other pests that damage plants. In colder months, they need a safe place to hibernate. By building a ladybird home, you can help protect them while creating a fun, hands-on learning experience.

Supporting documents

Duke of Edinburgh Worksheet [3 hours]

Ladybird eating aphids on a leaf.

Instructions

Creating a home for ladybirds

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Scavenger hunt

Before you start, think about what materials ladybirds might like. Look around your home or garden. What natural items could provide shelter? Some ideas:
 

  • Logs or branches – Could drilling small holes into them make good hiding spots?
  • Pine cones and twigs – How might these create nooks for ladybirds to tuck into?
  • Straw or dried leaves – Would these keep ladybirds warm in winter?
  • Old plant pots or wooden boxes – Could these be turned into little ladybird houses?

See what you can find!

Young person scavenging for resources to use for a ladybird home around the garden.
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Using logs and branches

Stack logs or small branches in a quiet part of the garden.

If you have a drill (and an adult to help), make some small holes in the wood for ladybirds to crawl into.

Holes drilled into small logs for ladybirds to crawl into and keep safe.
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Upcycle materials

Got an old plant pot, teapot, or even a small wooden box?

Fill it with natural materials like pine cones, straw, or twigs.

A young child kneeling on the floor filling an old ceramic teapot with straw.
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Benefits for ladybirds

Are you happy with what you built?

What skills did you learn?

Do you think ladybirds will feel safer in cold weather as a result of your work?
 

A ladybird home made from a wooden pallet, pine cones, logs and hay-filled teapots.

celebrate your achievement

Together, We’re Making an Impact

Upload a photo of your ladybird home, and we’ll add +1 to our impact counter - showing how many of you are making a collective difference. We may also feature your photo to inspire others, helping to show how we can all create a better world for animals.