Ist Framlingham Beavers helped and Suffolk 'Gadget Man' Jason Alexander put together the first module for what will be the 'world's biggest bug hotel' that will be used at Suffolk Wildlife Trust's education centre at Foxburrow Farm.
Monday, October 6, 2014 12:30 PM
Suffolk's 'Wildlife Gadget Man' Jason Alexander is hoping youngsters, community groups and businesses across the county will get the bug for breaking a world record. Environment Correspondent John Grant reports.
Jason Alexander hopes his plans to construct the biggest insect city ever made will create a lasting buzz of environmental excitement.
Mr Alexander's initiative, backed by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust, is set to provide a massive metropolis for bugs that will promote awareness of the crucial pollination and other beneficial roles insects play and inspire spin-off projects throughout the county - in addition to raising funds for the East Anglian Children's Hospice (EACH).
The 'Wildlife Gadget Man', who lives at Rushmere St Andrew, near Ipswich, plans to work with schools, community groups and businesses to create mini-modules that will be fitted together as a 'Bug City' to be located at the trust's flagship Foxburrow Farm nature reserve and education centre at Melton, near Woodbridge.
It is hoped it will be the biggest-ever structure of its kind and the project was launched this week with the first module being created by Mr Alexander and members of 1st Framlingham Beavers and Cubs at the town's Scout Hut in Badingham Road.
'It all started when EACH tweeted about their £50 challenge in which they give you £50 to set up a fundraising event and you then have to give the £50 back together with whatever your event has raised,' said Mr Alexander, who runs an online gadgets business dedicated to helping people watch nature.
'I thought I would have a go and it has snowballed from there.
'There is a record to break. I think it was set by the London Wildlife Trust and it stands at 13.1 metres by 1.2m high and just under 400mm deep. Hopefully we will break that record comfortably.
'This Bug City project is all about getting the community involved. There is the educational aspect, the EACH fundraising and the environmental side because a lot of insects will benefit and hopefully it will inspire people to make their own bug hotels too.
'We have the perfect location sorted out because Foxburrow Farm is a really popular education hub for the trust and the trust has been fantastic in helping me get to the launch stage.
'I want the project to touch as many people as possible and really help to make a difference for the benefit of insects, as well as raising money for a really worthwhile cause,' he added.
Kerry Stranix, the trust's communications manager, is working alongside Mr Alexander to build momentum for the world record attempt.
She said: 'This is so exciting for Foxburrow Farm, which is already a fantastic site for wildlife and is visited by thousands of schoolchildren and families every year.
'This project will raise awareness of the vital role played by invertebrates in our ecosystem, from pollinators to sources of food for many other species.'
She was in no doubt about insects' pressing need for any help they can get.
'As a result of the way the landscape has changed over recent decades, not all insect pollinators can readily find the food and shelter they need,' she said.
'A recently published study from the International Union for Conservation of Nature highlighted that about 46% of European bumblebee species are in decline, with 24% at risk of extinction, and we have already lost about 23 bee and flower-visiting wasp species in Britain.'
Help needed
National insect charity BugLife has added its support to Mr Alexander's initiative and has supplied material for Mr Alexander to give to groups that help him make the huge structure.
Paul Hetherington, the charity's director of fundraising and communications, said: 'The small things that run the planet are under ever greater threat as we concrete over their domain.
'The world record will create a great space for our small friends as well as playing a very important role in educating the future generations to the value and importance of bugs.'
Mr Alexander is appealing to individuals, businesses and community groups to donate materials, preferably recycled, for the project.
For the main structure he said he needs such items as old pallets, OSB Sterling board or similar that was 12mm-18mm thick, and roofing felt.
To fill the modules he needs logs, bamboo canes, bark, broken pottery, hay, moss, corrugated cardboard and two-litre fizzy drinks bottles.
Mr Alexander has set up an online donation page for EACH at http://ift.tt/1EkMWt6, through which visitors will also be able to follow the progress of the Bug City project.
He can be contacted by email and his own website will also follow the project to completion - planned for early next year - with films, blogs and photographs.
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