The Bug House Fence (My Wildlife Garden)

[@tiborposer487]

Can you give us an update? How does it look like after 3 years, what kind of insects are there, any problems you found, does it bother the neighbours, how to improve the next one, etc?

[@SmallwoodBees]

10 years on now but I'll see what I can do 👍 All positive feedback from the neighbours.

[@spencersnow9811]

@@SmallwoodBees An update video on this would be awesome. I'm curious how this looks after several years. Very cool design, well done.

[@Gnolomweb]

@@SmallwoodBees Yall must not have lots of bugs. Here, they find enough places to be for sure.

[@prophecyrat2965]

@@SmallwoodBeesyour neighbours must be truly great humans, tho In teying for sometjing similar, Granted a fisr bit larger, and Ive already got Complaints!!! Ill post a vid in some time, though Im going for a more “native american earth mounds/ earthships walls”… So wish me luck, hope I can chnage how my community understnds nature.

[@jacob1121]

You can just check the street name on google maps, looks basically identical to the video.

[@emilytheriver8722]

Your house was one of my favorite segments on Gardener’s World! I was so inspired! Here in Portland, Oregon there’s a “Backyard Habitat Certification Program,” and as I’ve been working on transforming my garden in accordance with their program…. Your garden has been such a design tool.

[@SmallwoodBees]

Thankyou so much. Really glad you like it. You'll have to send me some pictures of your garden

[@grannysweet]

Hello, what format is Gardener's world? Roku? TV? Book/magazine? Thank you for your help. I miss Oregon so much . How's Portland? What glorious art this fence is. 😊

[@s-c..]

@@grannysweetGardeners’ World is a show on BBC out of the UK, assuming that’s the one they’re talking about ( it’s the only one I know of 🙃). They have a website, but try googling where you can watch it in your part of the world. It’s a great show for gardening 👍

[@veronica_._._._]

BBC

[@george-1961]

Absolutely brilliant.. First time have come across your sight. Will be definitely taking examples from this 👌👏

[@SmallwoodBees]

It's one of my favourite creations. I could easily get carried away and do it everywhere :)

[@george-1961]

@@SmallwoodBees In all honesty, this is quite clever and looks so natural and a lot better on the eye than normal fencing. I can see why you get easily carried away with it 😉

[@ChrisJohnson-pd4hh]

@george-1961 - Surely you mean site not sight? Two very different things!😊

[@george-1961]

@@ChrisJohnson-pd4hh I keep on doing this 🤕. My spelling is good, I keep on mixing up similar words. Need to concentrate more.

[@SmallwoodBees]

@@george-1961 I wouldn't worry about it. I do the same :)

[@FindTheFun]

Actually one of the best KZbin videos I've ever seen. Small channel with 2k subs talking about an obscure topic, but it has 100k+ views so it's obviously found a pulse. You go through your process and describe the different methods, all while walking us down a literal timeline of your work, ending finally with the fastest and most efficient method you've discovered through all that trial and error. So much information, and none of it's padded out. Humble yet eyeopening.

[@imogeninnit]

What an amazing idea! Such a thoughtful way to encourage wildlife

[@DinoDelight]

That's incredible 👏👏👏👏

[@SmallwoodBees]

🙂

[@seaweedeater3104]

That is a labour of pure love, love for nature, love for life. Well done. Beautiful.

[@SmallwoodBees]

Thank you 🙂

[@andymann7762]

Love this ! Have started my own using the brick method. Cheers George.

[@SmallwoodBees]

That's great to hear. Please send me a picture when you've made some. I'd still staple all over even with the bricks if you're keeping it together with chicken wire. So it stays all even

[@swansong5263]

How brilliant is this! Inspiring and so original! I love it and I suspect the wildlife do as well.

[@SmallwoodBees]

I've just walked past today. Still sad to have left left it behind but it's still looking great. All the plants are starting to grow through and over it now too 🤗

[@SmallwoodBees]

I've just walked past today. Still sad to have left left it behind but it's still looking great. All the plants are starting to grow through and over it now too 🤗

[@nicholaswoollhead6830]

I am the president of ohr communal garden association here in Copenhagen, and we are definitely doing this. We were just gona do a normal "twig-fence" or whatever you alds call them - you know, the ones where you just set poles on either side and fill them in with sticks and such. But this is much nicer and a more varied habitat for the bugs. Thank you so much.

[@SmallwoodBees]

That's wonderful news. The main reason I do the videos is to share ideas and hopefully have people do the same or better. Please send me a photo when you've done it. Good luck 👍

[@argfasdfgadfgasdfgsdfgsdfg6351]

Make sure to drill the holes orthogonal to the stumps, not parallel to them.

[@TheRealHonestInquiry]

@@argfasdfgadfgasdfgsdfgsdfg6351 Please explain. Is that perpendicular to the grain or parallel? The sides or the ends, and why?

[@vociferonheraldofthewinter2284]

This is THE best idea I've come across in a very long time. 3:05 nailed the entire concept. I'm older and disabled and we need a fence. I hate that everything physical falls on my husband. I am more than capable of making a small frame with chicken wire on one side by myself, then stuffing the pieces, then stapling on the chicken wire on the other side to close it. Piece by piece, this is done with waste products over time. This is happening in Arizona! My bff in Florida is going to be in love with the concept, I'm sure. Thanks for spreading the inspiration around the world, friend!

[@kotukuwhakapiko467]

U go girl

[@_orodrigofernandes]

That's really clever and interesting. It got me thinking about tearing down my brick and mortar wall lol

[@EddVCR]

This house is my dream home! I love the idea of my garden supporting a whole ecosystem!

[@paulwheeldon3487]

That's amazing! I'd be scared stiff that kids set it alight though.

[@SmallwoodBees]

I was a little worried about that but it's not been a problem and it's nearly covered my ivy now too. if you look at the video the secret garden I've made a thinner simpler one. I really think it works for fencing method. All about increasing surface area for creatures

[@louisegogel7973]

@@SmallwoodBeesI wonder if you mix the rocks and wood, if that would provide more habitat and deter fire bugs. Definitely the ivy growing over is a great thing for so many reasons.

[@frankijzendoorn5111]

Looks like you worked really hard on the fence! A luxury hotel for the insects!

[@SmallwoodBees]

It's a labour of love 😊

[@panpawedunker3870]

beatiful idea

[@SmallwoodBees]

Thank you 👍

[@Flossy_tops]

Love it and what a great idea 👍

[@tessmonro7102]

Wow, what a lot of work👏 and so inspiring. I can see a new fence for my vegetable garden taking shape.

[@SmallwoodBees]

Thank you 🙂 Good luck 👍

[@drawyrral]

Why didn't I think of that? I love it.

[@SmallwoodBees]

Glad you like it 😁

[@jimmyfaulkner5746]

Outstanding

[@SmallwoodBees]

Thankyou 🙂

[@woodleyman4548]

You're a creative genious mate. Well done .

[@SmallwoodBees]

I wouldn't go that far but cheers pal 😁

[@jules153]

Great video, looking forward to the next installment 😎

[@haram2163]

Love it. I've been looking for an screen idea and I think I have just found it. Very impressed.

[@SmallwoodBees]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5_FXoFjd7h8mM0si=2480DQjPyDrXrInZ

[@SmallwoodBees]

That is the best one for a screen I reckon. Easiest one anyway. Key is to staple it all over else it'll bunch over time at the bottom 👍

[@LakeWolfgangGardens]

that's awesome thanks for sharing. I watched your video a couple of years ago and never forgot it, me and my partner are going to make something similar thank you for the really neat idea

[@SmallwoodBees]

@@LakeWolfgangGardens you're very welcome. Please let me know how it goes 👍👍

[@grahambaker9377]

Small birds will love your fence what a great idea.

[@Lovelygreens]

What a wonderful idea!

[@theeastman9136]

Great inspiration, thank you you bug lover. 🤭👍🏼

[@SmallwoodBees]

Thank you 🙂

[@22jo222]

Brilliant, thanks. For people who have a fence that goes to the ground, they could create 13x13 cm gaps for hedgehogs too!

[@SmallwoodBees]

Build a garden for hedgehogs, and everything is catered for 👍

[@SmallwoodBees]

The gate either end provided access for hedgehogs. I don't live there now but we used to get one very regularly

[@22jo222]

@@SmallwoodBees yes, our gate too, but the other end of the garden has a concrete wall which I should drill a hole in for the hedgehogs but I.m a bit scared to ! The top panel has fallen out and that’s where I want to replace it with your brilliant idea of the bee hotel.

[@maidinulster]

Wonderful work really impressive. Well done 💙

[@SmallwoodBees]

Thanks 👍 😊

[@rawforyou5514]

Very beautiful. Something to keep in mind. Inspiring!!!

[@SmallwoodBees]

Thank you 🙂

[@Zakalwe76]

Mate, you need to come do my fence. What a legend!

[@SmallwoodBees]

Cheers 👍 😁

[@mariGentle]

That is phenomenal ❤

[@SmallwoodBees]

Thank you 🙂

[@Jay-yy9ol]

Hi. Have you done a video that focuses on the bug nation living in the fence? Thank you,

[@SmallwoodBees]

Hard to tell what does. They stay hidden. It's kind of a build it and hope they come situation 🙂

[@peoplesfundraising9286]

Thanks for the great idea. Will put one at the bottom of our garden! 🙂

[@SmallwoodBees]

Thank you 🙂 Keep me updated with how it goes please 👍

[@Helmutlozzi]

Holy moly thats a smart wall!!

[@SmallwoodBees]

Thank you 👍👍

[@mannyb4265]

Never seen anything like it. I love it! Hi from Brisbane, Australia.

[@SmallwoodBees]

Hi. I'm sure it'd work in australia too though once built I'd never go near it again 😁

[@EstherMorris-Jones]

Keep up the good work!!!

[@1212haro]

I love you… this is brilliant! So respectful of our environment. ❤️❤️❤️

[@SmallwoodBees]

Thankyou :) I love seeing the wildlife so everybody wins

[@1212haro]

@@SmallwoodBees We are organic gardeners in the middle of town, in a small community. We encourage all kinds of beneficials to our lot. Bees, wasps, hornets, birds, etc. They are just not allowed to build nests on our lot, as that is what makes them aggressive. Your fence idea will be implemented next season once our rock wall is finished. It will be the perfect topper for hibernating insects. ❤️

[@SmallwoodBees]

@1212haro sounds great. Keep me updated on it please 👍👍

[@anniestumpy9918]

what a fantastic idea and execution!

[@SmallwoodBees]

Thank you 🙂

[@monicaericsson2692]

Well Done ❤🐝🕷️🕸️ ❤ it looks great and makes you feel happy to know someone understand the importance of insects. It inspires others to do something about it too.

[@SmallwoodBees]

Thank you 🙂 I hope so 🤞

[@dr.jekyll5234]

Very good. Im doing it the brick way. Consider running the planks through fire until black to weather proof them and then build the brick squares out of those and add the same charred wood roof to it all to make it last and add shelter. I even wax it with leftover bees wax from my hives and then its really resistant.

[@lucky1u]

Great idea! I'm inspired..

[@SmallwoodBees]

Thank you 🙂 👍

[@EverythingLyric0326]

Oh i do ❤ this! Hello from Lake Charles, Louisiana ~ America

[@SmallwoodBees]

Thank you 🙂

[@w.rowechmura8414]

A lot more thought went into this than I would have expected. Awesome job! ❤

[@SmallwoodBees]

There did. Ever evolving in how best to make it too. Thankyou 🙂

[@landonnobles2309]

Brother, this is incredible. I share your passions and I'm blown away at the effort you put into this. It came out amazing.

[@alexscott5441]

What a great effort mate, that wall is very impressive!

[@SmallwoodBees]

It's only getting better with time as the plants grow over it too. The joy of gardening. Things get better without needing to do anything

[@ralsharp6013]

Wow! That looks great! Anthropoid city over yonder, just beyond Spider kingdom ❤

[@user-uh9ho1wk4x]

good man we all have to help nature right now

[@zonzillamagnus5902]

Why?

[@simplyimpish1055]

Absolutely fabulous! I’m making one💖💖💖

[@SmallwoodBees]

Thank you 🙂

[@UnicornsExist17]

This is such a cool idea! I want to get a project like this done in my city.

[@SmallwoodBees]

Thank you 🙂. Cool. Good luck 👍

[@HoboGardenerBen]

Good job dude, that's a lovely way to rewild that wall. In a way, everything is wild. City sidewalks have lichen, many insects, poop residue to fuel microbial diversity, all sorts of crazy stuff going on down there. I love watching insects in the garden, they're superior beings in a lot of ways. Makes sense, they've been around so long and have had time to evolve the craziest adaptations. I really like the intention behind the future with the ivy covering all the niches within, that's some tasty gardening :)

[@SmallwoodBees]

Thank you 🙂 I totally agree 👍

[@HoboGardenerBen]

@@SmallwoodBees Ya dude :)

[@christinakostadinova7579]

This is so wonderful 🐛🪰🦎🦋🐝🐞🪳🐌

[@SmallwoodBees]

Thankyou. I don't live there now but it's still going strong 🙂

[@andrewcollins4033]

Its like the Neom project for bugs!

[@warwarneverchanges4937]

Welcome to the positive algoritm only 2 years later 😁

[@thermonuclearwarhead]

❤

[@yareyaran]

Intresting

[@SmallwoodBees]

Thankyou 🙂

[@eklectiktoni]

This is an excellent idea!

[@SmallwoodBees]

Thank you 🙂

[@emilylidie5120]

this is brilliant!

[@SmallwoodBees]

Thank you 🙂

[@omerbar7373]

Cool Idea!

[@fizzedupslade4082]

I think it's brilliant. Nice job.

[@SmallwoodBees]

Thank you 🙂

[@criscris2959]

Que útil y bonito!❤adoro esta valla llena de vida

[@michasosnowski5918]

Looks great and works for the bugs. Thanks for your work and sharing :)

[@SmallwoodBees]

Thank you 🙂 You're very welcome 👍

[@BizarreAvenir]

This is very inspiring. Thanks for sharing!

[@SmallwoodBees]

Thank you 🙂

[@radharcanna]

That looks fantastic. Great work. Well done.

[@SmallwoodBees]

Thank you 🙂

[@SmallwoodBees]

Thank you 🙂

[@Avocado740]

Fantastic idea

[@kingy002]

Big respect. I love it.

[@SmallwoodBees]

Thank you 🙏

[@ezlow1065]

Blooming brilliant! Greetings from Aus

[@SmallwoodBees]

Greetings from the UK. Thank you 🙂

[@OdiFroilan]

Awesome. Congratulations. It looks really good as well

[@SmallwoodBees]

Thank you 🙂

[@jukama7671]

Looks really good, but I heard recently we shouldn't drill so many holes into the wood or at least not so closely, because the bee mites can easily spread that way. In nature where there is one hole here and there bee mites apparently don't spread between the wild bees so well that way. But the do spread if we put too many holes into a log.

[@eternalfizzer]

This is amazing! You've really inspired me to try a few new things with scrap materials (reno off-cuts, prunings, cardboard that isn't suitable for composting). I love creating habitats for beneficial insects, etc. I'm looking forward to trying a few new things in the garden this spring.

[@RayMirshahi]

This is 5 star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ accommodation for insects! Well done sir. Beautiful, functional and multipurpose. Stacking functions as in permaculture. Thanks for sharing👍.

[@SmallwoodBees]

Thank you 😁

[@snoopaka]

Good on you. Bravo

[@SmallwoodBees]

Thank you 🙂

[@TEPO--]

FAB, WONDERFULLY CREATIVE and so beautiful too❕ Thank you for inspiring habitats ♥️

[@stalwart56k]

Brilliant!

[@SmallwoodBees]

Thank you 🙂

[@timefortinybirdandfriends6565]

Congrats! Very impressive!

[@postarica1767]

Really cool idea!

[@SmallwoodBees]

Thank you 🙂

[@TommeoAndJuliet]

Brilliant Great job Thank you

[@ShaneSaxson]

Very creative!

[@SmallwoodBees]

Thank you 🙂

[@ShaneSaxson]

@@SmallwoodBees your very welcome😀

[@marycerullo8455]

A living, breathing fence habitat. An absolute stunner. I’ve been thinking of staging a bee/bug hotel and now I will borrow from your design. They say imitation is a form of flattery.

[@bosatsu76]

Excellent idea... Love it... Will do that myself starting right now. And nothing says you can't grow tomatoes, beans, or cucumbers up it as well.

[@SmallwoodBees]

Thank you 🙂 Good plan 👌

[@AskMeABee]

Love it! ❤ That's something you can do no matter where you live. I just might repurpose my chicken wire to build one as a visual barrier from the road to my pool.

[@shibibi1]

I'm thinking the top of the fence would need to be either open or removable so you could keep topping it up as it settles and/or breaks down.

[@hanswurst1125]

This is awesome!!! 👍👍👍

[@Howwerelivingfishing]

Cool idea 👍

[@SmallwoodBees]

Thank you 👍

[@wildlifegardener-tracey6206]

Fantastic! Love it. 💚

[@SmallwoodBees]

Thankyou 🙂

[@thenextpoetician6328]

A super cool random find. I've made the odd bug motel, and now I'd like to build a whole neighborhood. There are grass snakes and toads in the garden and plenty for bees, and wasps, but this is next level by quite a bit.

[@SmallwoodBees]

Sounds great. I'd love some toads and even more so a grass snake. I'd love to get a slow worm too. Not sure they are in Sheffield though. Maybe too far north

[@ehhhsteve8582]

One thing to keep in mind is if you create a situation where there is a too high density of available habitat, it can cause disease to spread, predators and parasites to thrive, and other potential issues. Its good to diversify (similar to this fence) and may be even better to drill only a hundred holes or so each year rather than all at once. Think factory farming vs. polyculture as a comparison.

[@thenextpoetician6328]

@@SmallwoodBees With a bit of good fortune and a hospitable micro-climate, who knows what can happen ...

[@katiecannon8186]

Absolutely amazing.

[@SmallwoodBees]

Thankyou :)

[@tylerk.7947]

This is very creative. I love how it looks. I’d be a little concerned with letting the ivy grow over it, but that looks nice too. Great work

[@MaxWeinhold]

That last segment with the bricks is great modular design, I envision being able to scale up this process to make industry work for, rather than against nature, with prefabricated bricks that you mix-and-match to bring in a variety of different habitats!

[@SmallwoodBees]

I'd love to do something like that on a bigger scale. I just got no idea how to go about such a venture

[@Headoffury]

That's banging mate

[@libertyblueskyes2564]

Novel and wonderful!

[@SmallwoodBees]

Thankyou :)

[@pinballwizard6906]

Now that’s cool ✌️😎

[@chipwalter4490]

This looks so nice in England & I can see the reasoning behind the idea relevant to where you are living. Good job! 💚 This fence is a nightmare if it was relocated to Central Florida. Where I live, I shudder while imagining the absolute chaos unleashed on any people who had to deal with the dangerous ecosystem which would move into it after only a few days. There would be poisonous bugs, snakes, mammals (yes bats & raccoons can carry rabies) along with invasive vegetation that can grow by the footage, weekly, on-the-one had growing up and out, while on-the-other-hand, rapidly decaying wooden debris being washed out by daily summer thunderstorms (summer lasts 8 months), and forming heaping piles of seething rot underneath. That very same fence would last about 3-4 months in Florida before it became a slightly elongated hill of humming debris, cored with chicken wire, and piled with hell on earth. (Mounds of fire ants & wasps which could sting small children to death) …just thought I would share 🤗

[@veganvocalist4782]

brilliant ;D very well done sir , LOVE it, Will share and subbed

[@SC-bg8wf]

You've set a great example, I hope people copy you.

[@SmallwoodBees]

@@SC-bg8wf 🤞I hope so too

[@daniellapain1576]

There’s an old Swedish style of fence that has a similar purpose for the garden as the fence deteriorates you add more branches to it as they tend to be trimmed or fall off the trees every year late winter. So your fence posts are made out of the thickest branches that you find and gapped across from each other. Once you add branches you want them to be placed in the gap at roughly 45 degrees. You tie them together on the vertical thick branches about every 40-50cm up and it locks in the loose branches. I use spare wire for this but traditionally oiled twine was used.

[@adamtheownerofyourpassiona3879]

thank you!

[@FindThemPlantThem]

Thats great. I may try a variation by making short raised beds using the bricks method and stack in cut branches/logs that are drilled on outward facing side for pollinators but backed by soil for garden on the other. Thanks for the inspiration.

[@lordneador3724]

Really nice concept and cool look to it as well! However the round trunk cuttings with holes parallel to the grain are quite bad in terms of (flying) insect habitat. The tend to splinter and crack, making the holes unusable. For flying insects its always better to get some hard deciduous woods and drill perpendicular to the grain, then smooth out the corners of the bore hole (as you have done in some other places in the fence). Lovely to see projects on this scale!

[@pawel19677]

Very nice .

[@SmallwoodBees]

Thank you 🙂

[@caterpuss]

I would love to do this but I live in forest fire area. This is a brilliant idea.

[@SmallwoodBees]

Yes that does pose a problem. Maybe a rock one? Dry stone walls still make good habitat