Bug hotel. Advice?

twopenny

Wanting something for the bumblebees and hopeful helpful insects. But a big bumble has set up home in the compost heap and it's darn inconvenient.
I also need some preditors for the overwhelming aphids on the fruit trees.
I like the scruffy one from the rspb as it will be out of sight.
Hoping to make it big enough for a hedgehog
Can they have a back or does it need to be open both sides?
Best things to put in it? Lots of lovely dry leaves around and branches. I've got canes.
Appreciate any ideas or experience.

Catsacor

I had a dry stone wall once and that was always occupied, also had one of those commercial ones that looks like a wind instrument, that was always occupied too !

For materials - scarified material is a good addition, ornamental grasses that are loose are too, also added the odd pieces of moss that were dislodged from the roof, pets hair after grooming them.

MysteryMe

I bought a bug hotel from Aldi and it is only open at the front. I think one or two solitary bees took interest but TBH I didn't put it in the right location/aspect and worked on the basis that beggars can't be choosers but obviously they have better options elsewhere!

twopenny

Perhaps you need signposts mystery me.
On the moors yesterday there was some straw like strips of something all thickly on the roadsides. I hopped out and got a bag of it. Perfect.
Guess it blew off a lorry in the gale.
Today all the leaves are wet yet not forecast.
Fir cones should have blown off too so a foraging day.
Ps. Aldi is a 60mile round trip. Nothing but Christmas stuff in the shops at the mo. Garden centre stuff eyewatering prices.