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British-bred, five-frame Buckfast nucs, bred for temperament before anything else. Strong enough to give you a real shot at honey in your first year.
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Reserve your summer nuc. Dispatched from April, in strict date order.
Free UK delivery, and a live arrival guarantee or we replace your colony free.
[Reserve my nuc]
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Starting out in beekeeping is exciting, and it can also be completely overwhelming. Most beginners worry about ending up with a hot, defensive colony, or a weak one that never really gets going. A summer nuc from calm, proven stock takes that worry away. You get healthy bees you'll actually look forward to opening up.
A nuc, short for nucleus colony, is a small but complete honey bee colony. It has a laying queen, workers, and brood in all stages, already working together as a unit. A summer nuc is one that's ready to go from May onwards, once the weather has warmed up and forage is flowing.
Started in May, a well-managed summer nuc has a genuine chance of producing a honey crop in its first season.
Calm by design. Temperament is our number one breeding priority, not an afterthought. Beginners rate our bees 10 out of 10 for temperament. They're so calm you can work them in a t-shirt.
Mated F1 Buckfast queen. Bred for calm handling, disease resistance, and strong honey production, from lines with more than 75 years of combined family expertise behind them.
Free Paynes poly nuc. Worth over £75 and included with every order. It's purpose-built for postal delivery, ventilated, and the best travel home for your bees.
Safe arrival, guaranteed. Every colony ships Royal Mail Special Delivery. If anything arrives in poor condition, send us a photo and we'll sort it. No arguments.
Support every step of the way. Help before, during, and after your colony arrives, plus guides and videos that answer most questions before you need to ask.
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We're DASH accredited and members of the Bee Farmers Association. Fewer than 0.05% of our shipments have a problem, we respond to enquiries within 24 hours, and we dispatch on the date we promise.
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Summer nucs are available from May through to June, and we start dispatching from Mayonwards in strict date order. Availability depends on the season, so it's worth reserving yours early. Once the season's colonies are spoken for, that's it until next year.