Huddersfield's newest hotel has opened – in the shadow of Castle Hill.
It promises luxury food and palatial surroundings.
But there’s no need for the conservationists to get concerned about this latest project alongside the famous landmark.
For it’s a Bug Hotel – specially created at the community farm at Stirley hill.
The guests, including a variety of insects and small mammals such as mice and voles, will be made to feel right at home.
Students from top-performing Selby College have been building insect hotels at Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s Stirley Community Farm in Berry Brow.
The nine students, who are all studying for a Diploma in Construction, designed and assembled their own insect habitats with the help of construction tutor Lee Palmer and his colleague Sarah, as well as Stirley’s Education Officer Annie Russell and Education trainee Hannah Jones.
The team’s objectives were to practise conservation and team building.
The task made a refreshing change from their usual lessons in bricklaying.
The students were lucky enough to visit the farm on a sunny (if very cold) day, and enjoyed some spectacular views across the valley whilst they worked.
Putting their practical skills to great use, the team sourced raw and recycled materials from the farm and built two new habitats in the farm’s orchard and food garden, which has been put in place with funding from Big Lottery Fund’s Local Food programme.
Annie Russell from Yorkshire Wildlife Trust said: “Now, with these fantastic structures in place, insects and small mammals will be able to survive a cold winter, promoting biodiversity and establishing new species on the farm.
“This is all part of the grand plan for the farm – working to attract wildlife back into this part of the Pennine Fringe, helping to reconnect the wonderful green spaces around the farm.”
To find out more about Stirley Community Farm and how you can get involved visit http://www.ywt.org.uk/stirley-community-farm .
