Diary of a Heather Hills Beekeeper: November - March
In winter honey bees do not actually hibernate, but rest in a cluster. The temperature in the midst of the cluster is kept warm by their bodyheat. Eating honey stored in summer provides this warmth; but if stores run out the bees cannot survive. Bees try to keep their home clean so make cleansing flights on mild days.
As the days lengthen and the weather warms up (not guaranteed here!) the queen bee, of which there is one in each hive, is stimulated to lay larger numbers of eggs. The colony grows stronger week by week, taking advantage of early sources of pollen such as willow trees. This is their source of protein to feed the young bee larvae.
