CHECKING out their newly-constructed bug hotel during a Forest School session at Askrigg are eco-warriors from Askrigg and Bainbridge schools: checking in, they hope, will be a wide variety of species. Not just bugs but beetles, bees, worms, caterpillars and even frogs, newts and toads.

From a range of otherwise discarded natural materials - sheep’s wool, corrugated cardboard, broken plant pots and canes - the children stocked the five-storey hotel made with pallets from a local haulage company run by Jim Thompson. Parent and sculptor, Andris Berg, carved the sign.

The eco group, under the direction of teaching assistant and co-ordinator Julie Fawcett, are working towards their third international green flag award from Eco Schools, England. The ecology programme is evaluated by inspectors every two years and for the award they must have covered a total of nine topics.

“A basic principle of the award is that it must reflect a whole-school approach to ecology. The eco group have built the hotel but all the children have contributed. It’s a great way to attract a huge variety of wild life,” said Julie.

Pictured with Julie Fawcett are, left to right, eco-warriors Eidur Pickard-Sparne, Chloe Steward, Xander Connelly, Sophie Handley, Edward Wood and Freddie Norman.