When the Cameras Came to the Apiary: Colony Losses After a Wet, Warm Winter

Today we had a TV crew, ITV WEST and Channel 5 with us at The Dorset Bee, filming a story we never want to have to tell: we’ve lost colonies.

This winter was wet and warm, with around double the rainfall we’d normally expect. That combination matters. It changes how bees behave, how long they stay active, how well they can manage their stores, and how much stress they carry into spring. For us, it’s a clear example of how climate change is showing up on the ground—right at the hive.

Why a wet, warm winter can be so hard on bees

Cold, settled winters can help colonies conserve energy. But warm, wet conditions can keep bees active when they should be clustered and resting. They burn through stores faster, and the constant damp makes it harder for a colony to stay dry and stable inside the hive.

And when rain keeps coming, bees can’t reliably get out to forage on the better days. So you end up with colonies working harder, eating more, and getting fewer chances to reset.

The extra pressures that came with the rain

This winter didn’t just affect the bees. It affected everything around them too—and that brought more stress to the apiary.

**Wasps:**

Milder conditions can keep wasps going later, and hungry wasps will test weak colonies relentlessly. A colony already under strain can struggle to defend itself.

**Woodpeckers:**

When conditions are tough, woodpeckers can target hives, trying to reach bees and warmth. Even if they don’t break in, repeated attacks can cause serious stress and disruption.

**Mice (under the hives):**

In our case, the mice weren’t nesting inside the hives, but underneath them—seeking shelter from the relentless wet. Even from below, they can add pressure: disturbance around the stand, mice odor, and the general stress of activity right under a colony that’s already trying to get through a difficult season.

All of these pressures were amplified by the same underlying theme: a winter that didn’t behave like winter.

What we wanted the cameras to capture

We wanted people to see that colony losses aren’t just numbers. They’re the result of multiple stresses stacking up—weather, predators, and the knock-on effects of a changing climate.

We also wanted to show that beekeepers aren’t simply “losing bees”; we’re responding to a shifting environment where the old expectations don’t always hold.

Where we go from here

We’ll take what we’ve learned from this winter and apply it going forward—stronger protection, closer monitoring, and adapting to conditions that are becoming less predictable.

But we’re also sharing this because it’s bigger than beekeeping. If double the rainfall and warm winters are becoming the new normal, we need to talk about what that means—for bees, for pollination, and for the landscapes we all rely on.

To watch the clip https://www.itv.com/watch/news/a-devastating-winter-for-the-west-countrys-bee-population/qqvbqk2

*— The Dorset Bee*