An elaborate bug hotel styled on the famous Hollywood sign has been unveiled in Farnham’s Gostrey Meadow.

The sign was created by Farnham-based non-profit group Green Up Britain in partnership with Farnham Town Council and Men in Sheds, and built at the space2grow community garden using recycled plastic.

It was sponsored by a variety of businesses, schools and community groups, and revealed at the Farnham in Bloom Community Day last Saturday.

Haskins is a keen supporter of Green Up Britain’s sustainability mission, making the Farnham bug hotel project an ideal partnership
(Haskins)

It is hoped the sign will boost biodiversity and flying insect numbers in the meadow, as well as improving ​Farnham’s chances in the RHS Britain in Bloom final​.

Green Up Britain founder and director Kaz Bishop said: "The idea began after I read a report by Buglife UK which said the UK had seen a drop of 64 per cent in the abundance of flying insects between 2004 and 2022 and I wanted to do something urgently.

"I thought if we could come up with a highly visual bug hotel here in Farnham we could help raise awareness."

Iain McCready, the town council’s officer responsible for parks, added: " The town council want to increase sustainability and biodiversity and do our bit for climate change.

The hotel was constructed by Farnham Town Council and Men in Sheds, based at space2grow community garden, and sponsored by a variety of community organisations
The hotel was constructed by Farnham Town Council and Men in Sheds, based at space2grow community garden, and sponsored by a variety of community organisations (Haskins)

"We’ve set aside an area in the park in the centre of Farnham and have already created dead hedges, a wildflower area and now we have this huge new bug hotel."

Sponsors included Haskins Forest Lodge garden centre, whose staff were on hand at the community day to furnish the hotel with greenery, as well as Tindle Newspapers Ltd, All Saints and St Polycarp’s schools, Farnham Rugby Club, Farnham Town Youth FC and St Andrew’s Parish Church.

Forest Lodge general manager, Simon Hughes, said: “Welcoming families is a big part of our day-to-day at Forest Lodge, so it was particularly great to see so many children impressed by the bug house sign and enjoying the day’s activities for themselves.”