Much of the direct contact we have with the country's insect population involves trying to drive the little beasties out of our homes and gardens.

But we take for granted the vital jobs that insects do – and staff at the Washington Wetland Centre hope to put that right.

The centre is one of the North East's biggest conservation success stories – and staff are quick to stress it is not just for birds.

Moths, dragonflies, frogs and toads, butterflies, goats and bats also make their home here.

Giselle Eagle, who works as a Bio Diversity Warden at the centre, is part of the team which has been working on creating a specially designed insect garden at the centre.

"The idea for the garden and its design began a few years ago," she said. "We wanted to have something different for visitors to look at, not just birds.

"It was something that we thought people could come and enjoy and then take ideas home with them for their own garden."

Insects are an essential element in our ecosystem. They are the basis of food chains, pollinate plants, decompose waste and recycle nutrients. In fact, life on earth could not survive without them.

Giselle said: "Insects are very important in terms of conservation, and they can be neglected as they are not cute and cuddly like some of the animals.

"Insects are very good at adapting but human interference can cause extinction."

There are more species of insects on earth than any other group of organisms. Of the 1.5million known species, more than half are insects, but despite this insects are still not fully understood by many of us and we do not consider their needs.

The insect garden has been designed to illustrate how easy it is to provide the correct conditions for insects to flourish.

"All of the plants we have chosen for the insect garden will attract different types of insects according to colour." said Giselle, "And they will all flower at different times of the year so there will always be something flowering.

"We hope the flowers will attract a range of butterflies and the water area we have should encourage dragon flies.

"We also have dead wood areas that should help to attract ground beetles."

The Royal Entomological Society's National Insect Week wants to encourage us to understand how important bugs can be and advise on how we can help insects thrive.

The garden which the wetlands team has created is full of plants, dead wood and it even has an insect hotel.

Giselle said: "The hotel was created using our old bins from around the centre, and bricks and bamboo. It is a great place for insects to get out of the cold in winter.

"If you are looking to spot insects in your own back garden then have a look at any dead wood or rotten vegetation and look under slabs or rocks.

"Alternatively create your own insect garden, pile up some wood and plant a range of high nectar plants such as buddleia, foxglove or lavender."

She added: "It is important to build something like our insect hotel so that the insects have somewhere to hibernate in the winter."

The garden will also include viewing areas specially designed to encourage insects to thrive.

Corrugated tin sheets will be anchored at one end to the ground creating moist living areas for the insects which you can lift up and view, there will also be fixed viewing boxes with clear perspex lids so you can take a peek at what is going on inside.

Giselle said: "A lot of animals and plants rely on insects for survival. People don't see insects unless they look closely so they don't realise numbers are being depleted until it is to late.

"They are just as important as the cute and cuddly things because without the insects they might not be there."

* The insect garden is open from July 15. For admission prices and further details call 0191 416 5454, visit www.wwt.org.uk or email info.washington@wwt.org.uk

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