"NOISE" of mowers and other garden equipment. Bees have no ears and cannot hear, only feel vibrations However, the odor of carbon monoxide from gasoline detonation makes bees most unhappy and defensive. I have no knowledge of bee huts; but I would always want moving air and sun on my colonies elevated off of damp ground. Dampness is a far greater problem than cold - don't prevent breezes (not heavy wind) and sun from keeping a colony dry. I have been all over Ireland, foxhunting, so I know the weather there. George