I have been reading the usual winter threads on how much and what insulation colonies need for the winter with a slight smile. I have 12mm ply nucs with no insulation doing very well thankyou and mini nucs thriving, just need to top the food up regular. I was out today checking a site that is in the middle of a very busy shoot so it has not been checked since before christmas, one hive roof blown clean off and both feed holes open. The crownboard was soaking wet so I cracked it to see if there was any life, sure enough 7-8 seams of bees, not to welcoming but i gave them some fondant and put the roof back on. The roof is a lightweight cedar roof I have been given, it now has a brick on. Those bees have had six mm ply with two holes in it for who know how long to keep them warm. Insulation, don't think they need it, I have never seen a tree with kingspan over the top of the nest!