We lost both bee colonies over the winter. They were still flying in mid December but the long winter was too much for them. Neither colony was strong enough to survive the cold despite plenty of honey stores. We should have combined them into one, but that's a lesson learned. We're starting again in a new spot, protected from northern winds by an old dry stone wall and facing south should make the most of any winter sun. I built a small windbreak to give a little shelter from southern winds and to make them fly up a bit as they cross the field and the road beyond. The grass will grow up into the trellis over time. So there's the hive, the new bees arrive in a couple of weeks...!