Bugs in Upper Hale can live in luxury thanks to refurbishment of the bug hotel in St Mark’s churchyard by Hive Helpers.

Liam and Erica from the group transformed an old bug hotel which had become overgrown with ivy and seemed to have just two residents - a spider and a snail.

Now the ivy has been removed there is a variety of materials in the individual ‘rooms’ for different invertebrates to use. Most of the materials were found in the churchyard and include sticks, leaves, grass and apples from the orchard. Erica supplied undyed wool which small birds and mice may take for their nests.

A spokesperson for the church said: “We are very grateful to Erica and Liam for their hard work and I am sure the bugs will be too! Hive Helpers have been a great source of information about how to make our churchyards better for the environment.”