Sidmouth Friends of the Byes volunteers are buzzing after winning an award for their handmade insect friendly B&B.

Sidmouth Herald: Friends of the Byes volunteers young and old gave up their time to make the bee hotel which has won a prize.Friends of the Byes volunteers young and old gave up their time to make the bee hotel which has won a prize. (Image: Archant)

The group won the best community build category in the build for bees competition organised by Natural Devon.

The home is specifically designed for bees and other wildlife and was designed and built by volunteers using natural materials – including local thatch donated by master thatcher Mark Turbitt.

Michael Horsnell, chairman of FOTB, said: “For several years now, FOTB volunteers have been adding nature log piles, wildflowers, trees all with the aim of attracting more wildlife into the Byes. So we are pleased to have come out winners of this lovely, enjoyable competition.”

Monica Matthews, secretary for FOTB, said: “We are pleased with the results and grateful to everyone for giving up some of their time to help create a lovely home for wildlife”

Sidmouth Herald: Friends of the Byes volunteers young and old gave up their time to make the bee hotel which has won a prize.Friends of the Byes volunteers young and old gave up their time to make the bee hotel which has won a prize. (Image: Archant)

Devon Local Nature Partnership launched the contest to encourage residents and local groups to build bug hotels and help pollinators through ‘practical conservation’.

It was part of the ‘Get Devon Buzzing’ campaign, which aims to reverse the decline in pollinators as over the last seven decades up to 97 per cent of the UK’s wildflower meadows have been lost.

Andrew Whitehouse, countries manager for Buglife said: “The decline in pollinators is a serious issue, so it’s great to see so many people getting involved in practical conservation for pollinators by building habitats for them.”