Home▸Ecology & Conservation Biology▸Wintering by UK Microclimate: Adapting Ventilation and Feeding

🐝 Wintering by UK Microclimate

Interactive 3D UK map where selecting a region from the Highlands to Cornwall updates a linked hive cross-section, adjusting simulated ventilation and feeding needs to match local winter microclimate data.

Ecology & Conservation Biology3DModerate60 FPS

A stylised 3D map of the United Kingdom is linked live to a hive cross-section: pick any region from the Highlands to Cornwall and watch the simulated bee cluster, top ventilation, condensation risk and fondant feeding needs adjust to that region's winter climate.

🔬 What It Demonstrates

Winter temperature, humidity and wind exposure vary sharply across the UK. Those differences change how tightly a colony clusters, how much top ventilation is needed to avoid fatal condensation, and how much emergency fondant a colony is likely to need.

🎮 How to Use

Select a region and step through the winter months, then adjust the top ventilation gap, roof insulation and site exposure. Compare your ventilation setting against the recommended value and watch condensation risk respond in the hive cutaway.

💡 Did You Know?

More UK colonies are lost to damp than to cold outright — a dry hive at freezing survives far better than a wet one a few degrees warmer, which is why beekeepers measure ventilation gaps in millimetres.

⚙ Under the hood

overwinteringmicroclimatehive-ventilationuk-beekeepingclimate-adaptationecology

3D · Three.js / WebGL renderer · 60 FPS target · runs fully client-side, no install