Welcome to the bug hotel

Welcome to the bug hotel

Nestled in the heart of Greenwood Park’s native ‘Quail Trail’, a new eco-friendly hotel is quietly making a big impact – thanks to resident Brian Pratt.

A passionate member of the village’s Sustainability Enviro Group, Brian has built a “bug hotel,” a charming refuge for native insects, using entirely scavenged and donated materials from the village workshop.

“Wally the Wētā was our first resident. When I released him into his new home, I thought of it as a guest checking in. We haven’t seen him since, so he might be hibernating, but he hasn’t ordered room service!” laughs Brian.

Brian’s love for bugs began over 20 years ago while working on Maggie’s Garden Show with Maggie Barry and Ruud Kleinpaste, the famed ‘Bug Man.’

“Ruud was the catalyst,” Brian recalls. “He’d bring in bugs every week, and while the crew would squirm and scream, I loved them!”

His journey to Greenwood Park is a colourful one. With a career spanning two decades in broadcasting and television, Brian worked as a floor and production manager on everything from sports events to TV garden shows.

Toward the end of his career, Brian was a Location Manager for Sir Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. “Peter wanted to see every possible location in New Zealand. I’d fly to Wellington, then scout places like Queenstown and Glenorchy. It was an amazing swan song before I retired.”

After retiring from a life in production, Brian and his wife spent time in England as a gardener and housekeeper for a historic estate, deepening his love for plants. “The house was 200 years old, and it had a wonderful garden.”

Back in New Zealand, he earned a diploma in horticulture and now helps propagate native species in the village nursery.

The bug hotel is just one part of a broader vision. Brian would like to transform the Quail Trail into an accessible art walk, showcasing sculptures from local artists. “Imagine people strolling through native bush, discovering art and nature side by side,” he says.

From blockbuster films to bug sanctuaries, Brian’s story is a testament to creativity, sustainability, and the joy of giving back to nature.