Which? homes in on wildlife rip-off

GARDENERS appear to be wasting money on "ineffective and unnecessary" shop-bought homes for wildlife.

In a year-long trial by Which? Gardening magazine, not a single butterfly was seen to use the Gardman Butterfly Haven (14.99), no lacewings were seen visiting the Chapelwood Lacewing Chamber (22.95) and just one ladybird was seen checking into the Crocus Ladybird Hotel (9.99).

Which? tested six different wildlife homes in ten gardens, mostly in and around the Sheffield area, with an expert monitoring the sites regularly. The expert deemed hedgehog shelter the Hoggy Home (69) "expensive and unnecessary".

The Hedgehog Preservation Society says hedgehogs should be able to build their own shelters as long as there is a supply of nesting materials. And while not a single bee was seen visiting the Wildlife World Bumble Bee Nester (26.99), the accompanying instructions to capture a queen bee in early spring and trap it inside the nester for a couple of days concerned the watchdog, which said experts would not encourage interference in natural wildlife patterns.

The trial found a home-made solitary bee nest costing "next to nothing" proved more successful than a shop version.