ID for these two in my garden, please

[clueless]

Hallo,
new to forum, have no idea about spiders, i just feed them flies when i see their lovely webs.
-- have noticed this chap with the big fat black body as a new one this year
-- also this brown one with the cross on his back appears every year: this time have a couple really big ones
QUESTIONS location: southern coast of UK
- what are their name please?
- do they eat flies?
- do they bite?
- where do they overwinter ( i have to cut back some of my bushes but dont want to harm them)

thanks, clueless

 

[zsiciarz]

Both of these are Araneus diadematus, different color variants. The dark one is almost certainly a gravid female, the other may be a female as well. Travis has a good video on the species:

 

[Brewser]

'The Cross Orbweaver' with Travis McEnery is Full of Gold Nuggets of Information regarding these Wonderful Weavers.
Two Thumbs Up to the Entire 'The Spiders in your Yard' Series as well.

 

[clueless]

Thank You so much, what a wonderfully educative video, i enjoyed it very much --- THANK YOU again, clueless