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Beetles make up more than a third of all known species on earth – and you can find them in almost every kind of habitat, all year round! A vital part of a healthy ecosystem, beetles come in an amazing variety of colours, shapes and sizes, so they can be fun to spot and a great way to engage children in some close-up exploration.

Try this outdoor activity, created in partnership with , with your child or teenager to help them learn about the kinds of insects and ecosystems that exist all around you.

As the first part of building a beetle bucket involves cutting holes with a sharp knife, remember that they will also need help from an adult!

Here are the instructions for you and your child.

You will need

• An old bucket or other durable, upcycled container
• A small craft knife (for adult use only)
• Stones
• Bark chips and/or leaves
• Small logs or branches that will fit upright in your container
• A spade or other implement to dig with

Let's get started

Step 1

Safely cut small, circular holes (around 3cm wide) in the sides and bottom of the bucket for beetles to enter and exit.

Step 2

Dig a hole just larger than your bucket and sink it into the ground. Put the soil to one side.

Step 3

Place some large stones in the bottom of the bucket, then stand some small logs upright on top of these.

Step 4

Fill the rest of the bucket with bark chips and/or dead leaves, leaving around 10cm at the top to fill with some of the soil dug from the ground.

Step 5

Top the soil with a few more logs to tempt in beetles - from above or below!

care for 2,300 nature reserves all over the UK, providing inspiration and education about the natural world. They also work with others to manage their land with nature. Their collection has plenty more nature activities for families to try.

Illustrations by Corinne Welch

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