We are trying to overwinter an observation hive for the first time this year. The hive has 3 frames (2 deep and 1 shallow) vertically above each other. It is in an unheated corridor with a pipe to outside. I once spoke to someone who had overwintered a hive in this way in Scotland (colder than here), but I don't remember how he did it. I would also welcome advice. The problem is similar to that of overwintering full-size beehives indoors as in Canada. I have a paper by McCutcheon, D.M. (1984) Indoor wintering of hives. Bee World 65(1), 19-37. It is available from the International Bee Research Association as a reprint. It seems that 4 degrees C works well but who knows for an observation hive ? William Kirk, University of Keele, Staffs., U.K. [log in to unmask]