Standing at my back door yesterday having a cuppa & spotted a bee (too far away for specific identification) hovering around some crocuses. I’m clearly no expert but I thought bees hibernated / died in winter?
is this climate change related? I.e a bad thing to have seen?
Yes, it is normal. Species like buff tailed bumblebee often appear in gardens in Feb. There was one hitting the kitchen window a few days ago. There are also a few smaller species out now and as you noticed, can be seen around some crocus species and other early flowers. Milder Winters, I am guessing, will affect insect species, esp when later cold snaps then hit.