Hi All. My single hive came through the first 'real' winter we've had in ten years strongly, with bees clustering across seven frames, and an examination of floor debris showing very few mites. A couple of weeks ago the temperature shot up to the mid-fifties, and the bees were bringing in large quantities of pollen. After a week of mild weather I opened the hive, and found eggs and brood under three days old over about four frames, and a single patch of sealed brood the size of my palm. Since Saturday it's been snowing again, on and off. Regards, Robert Brenchley [log in to unmask]