Bird, Bee and Bug Houses

Susie Behar is a book editor and writer, with more than 25 years experience of editing children’s non-fiction and fiction. She lives in rural West Sussex, UK, surrounded by farmland, open countryside and lots of birds, bees and bugs. She has written books on a number of subjects, including mental health, well-being, the countryside and the natural world.   Esther Coombs is the illustrator of the award-winning Kids Can series including Kids Can Cook Vegetarian, Kids Can Cook and Kids Can Bake, and three children's activity books, The New York Activity Book, The London Activity Book and Plant, Sow, Make & Grow (all published by Button Books). She is a professional illustrator probably best known for drawing buildings; however, she also works with domestic objects and more organic 'natural' subjects such as animals, plants and people. Recent clients include Hampshire Cultural Trust, Kyle Books UK, The Watts Gallery and commercial developers. Coombs lives in Canterbury, England. See more at esthercoombs.com.

Introduction 6

Homes and habitats 8

Make a bird box 10

Owl homes 14

Awesome owls 16

Bird architects 18

Build a bird bath 20

No-bake bird cake 22

Make a butterfly garden 24

Beautiful butterflies 26

Build a bat house 28

Fantastic bats 30

Make a bee home 32

Inside the hive 34

Build a bug hotel 34

Build a beetle bank 38

Termite towers 40

Make a mini pond 42

Amazing amphibians 44

Pond dipping 46

Make a mini meadow 48

Become a wildlife detective 50

Glossary 52

Useful conservation websites 54