KOONARA Wines encouraged creatives to build “bug hotels” ahead of the Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival at the weekend.
With a $300 cash prize up for grabs, the Snug as a Bug competition brief was to build a safe home for “good insects” during winter.
The bug hotels – constructed from recycled and upcycled materials – will attract good bugs and keep bad bugs under control without the need for harmful pesticides.
Mount Gambier’s Nicky Jellesma won over the judges with her entry Bee Happy, which was designed to attract native bees.
“I wanted to remind everyone that bees are an important part of our ecosystem,” Ms Jellesma said.
“I used the materials provided with the instruction sheet and dried hydrangeas from my own garden.”
The winning entry and top eight bug hotels were auctioned at Koonara Wines on Saturday, with around $200 raised for next year’s Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival.
