ARE your children bored during lockdown? An exciting new competition could be just the thing to keep them entertained, get their creative juices flowing, and educate them about nature at the same time.

A competition, in collaboration with architects Mattinson Associates Ltd and The Young Designers Award, is being held for those 16 years old and under to win some great prizes.

With new government restrictions in place, times are challenging, and organisers are hoping this

competition will help get children outside and enjoying nature and architecture during the winter months.

The challenge is to get 'bug building' and to design an insect hotel.

Bug buildings are great hideaways for not just insects but hedgehogs, frogs, creepy crawlies, and even small mammals too.

Use waste from your garden or house to design an exciting, creative insect hotel based on your favourite building.

It could be in the shape of your house, a tower or even the shard!

It has to be something creative and more importantly, suitable for insects to inhabit over chilly months.

The entries will be shortlisted into age groups, then an expert panel will choose a winner.

Entrants could win an eco-friendly bundle full of exciting activities to do and a copy of Understanding Architecture by award-winning IW architect Lindsay Mattinson.

There are two ways to enter.

Either draw a picture of your dream bug building or make a model and submit a maximum of three photographs of it.

Write a maximum of 200 words about the model or drawing.

Email your entry to yda@mattinsonassociates.com with the subject line The Bug Building Competition.

The competition closes at midnight on February 28.