Starting with a strong, healthy nucleus colony gives your beekeeping season the best possible foundation. Our overwintered nucs are carefully managed throughout the winter and early spring to ensure they are thriving before they leave our apiary.  With good management they will produce honey in the first season. 
 
Each colony is supplied on six National brood frames and is suitable for National or WBC hives. Your bees will be provided in a poly nuc box, making transport straightforward and providing secure accommodation until you transfer them into their permanent hive.  
 
Reserve yours soon as numbers are limited.   A non-refundable deposit reserves your nucleus, with the remaining £250 payable on collection. 
 
Raised by Experienced Beekeepers
Every queen is reared at our Sussex apiaries from carefully selected stock, chosen for good temperament, productivity and reliable brood patterns. As the colony develops, we regularly assess its strength, food reserves and queen performance, ensuring it is progressing as expected before being offered for sale.
 
The health of our bees is a priority. Colonies are routinely monitored for disease and varroa, and our apiaries are inspected by the National Bee Unit as part of our ongoing commitment to maintaining high husbandry standards.
 
Your Colony Will Include:
Around 15,000 worker bees.
A young, marked mated queen that is laying well.
A minimum of three frames containing brood in all stages of development, normally more.
Food stores to support the colony as it establishes in its new home.
Six well-populated frames ready for continued spring expansion.
 
Because bees are living livestock, the exact balance of brood, stores and adult bees will naturally vary with the weather and season, but every colony is supplied only when we are happy it has reached the standard we expect.
 
Our nucs will be ready to be transferred into a full size brood box fairly soon after collection so please have your equipment ready. 
 
Collection Information
A non-refundable deposit reserves your nucleus for spring 2027, with the remaining £250 payable on collection. 
Collections take place from an apiary in West Sussex, with local delivery available by prior arrangement in some parts of the South East.
 
Availability
Our overwintered nucleus colonies are typically ready from late April/early May onwards, although timing always depends on spring weather and colony development. We never rush colonies simply to meet a date—we release them only when they are strong enough to give you the best possible start.
 
We'll keep you informed by email as the season progresses and will contact you as soon as your nucleus is ready for collection.  It is done on a first come first served basis.  If you are not able to collect when the bees are ready that nuc will be given to the next person on the list.