Overwintered Nucleus Colony

Bee Nucs For Sale | Overwintered Nucleus Colonies

Our overwintered nucleus colonies are produced from our own bees and UK-reared queens here in Northumberland.

Established during the previous season and taken through the winter as functioning colonies, our overwintered nucs offer beekeepers a strong start to the new season with an established laying queen and colony that have already successfully overwintered together.

For 2027, we have simplified our nucleus colony offering. All of our overwintered nucs will be headed by our own Northumberland Buckfast queens and supplied as strong 5-frame BS National nucleus colonies in a wooden travelling nuc box.

2027 pre-orders are open from 1st October 2026.

2027 COLLECTION DATES

To simplify our bee production and collection process, all 2027 overwintered nucleus colonies will be available for collection on one of two designated collection dates only:

Friday 14th May 2027 — 7:00am to 8:00am

Friday 21st May 2027 — 7:00am to 8:00am

Collection is from our premises in Haltwhistle, Northumberland.

Please select your preferred collection date when ordering. Customers should ensure they are able to collect during the stated one-hour collection window before placing an order.

Our overwintered nucs are collection only and cannot be posted or delivered.

WHAT IS AN OVERWINTERED NUC?

A nucleus colony – commonly known as a nuc – is a small but functioning honey bee colony containing a laying queen, worker bees, brood, food stores and established comb.

An overwintered nuc differs from a newly established spring or summer nucleus colony because the queen and colony have already lived together through the previous season and successfully come through winter.

This gives the beekeeper an established colony headed by a proven, overwintered queen and makes overwintered nucs a popular choice for beekeepers looking to establish a new colony early in the season.

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN OUR OVERWINTERED NUCS?

Each 2027 overwintered nucleus colony is supplied with:

• 5 BS National frames
• An established, laying Northumberland Buckfast queen
• Worker bees and brood at different stages of development
• Food stores appropriate to the colony
• A wooden travelling nuc box

Our 2027 overwintered nucleus colonies are £350 each.

NORTHUMBERLAND BUCKFAST QUEENS

All of our 2027 overwintered nucleus colonies will be headed by one of our own UK-reared Northumberland Buckfast queens.

Our Northumberland Buckfast bees are developed from the breeding stocks used within our own commercial bee farming operation, with queens reared here in Northumberland.

Selection is focused on the characteristics that matter to us as professional bee farmers, including good temperament, productivity, colony strength and suitability for British conditions.

For 2027 we are no longer offering a choice between different queen types within our nucleus colonies. Instead, all overwintered nucs will be headed by our Northumberland Buckfast queens, allowing us to concentrate our breeding and colony production around the bees we select for our own operation.

Queens are supplied marked.

TRANSPORTING YOUR NUCLEUS COLONY

Your bees will be securely contained within their wooden travelling nuc box ready for collection.

Please ensure there is adequate space in your vehicle for the nuc to sit flat and securely during transport. The travelling box should be kept well ventilated and protected from excessive heat.

Do not leave bees unattended in a closed vehicle.

Once home, the nucleus colony can be positioned at its intended apiary site before transferring the frames into your BS National hive.

INSTALLING YOUR OVERWINTERED NUC

When transferring your nuc into its permanent hive, maintain the existing order and orientation of the frames as closely as possible.

The colony should be given sufficient room to develop as the weather and nectar flow improve. Overwintered nucleus colonies can develop rapidly during spring, so regular inspections and appropriate management are important.

As with any colony of bees, the rate of development will depend upon weather, forage availability and local conditions.

FEEDING YOUR NUC

Whether your nucleus colony requires feeding will depend upon weather, available forage and the food stores already present within the colony.

During prolonged poor weather or where forage is limited, supplementary feeding may be beneficial while the colony establishes itself in its new hive.

The colony should always be assessed before feeding rather than feeding automatically.

SUITABILITY FOR NEW BEEKEEPERS

An overwintered nucleus colony can provide an excellent way to establish a new hive, but anyone purchasing bees should have suitable equipment and sufficient knowledge to manage a developing honey bee colony.

For new beekeepers, we strongly recommend completing practical beekeeping training and joining a local beekeeping association before obtaining bees.

You should have your BS National hive, protective clothing and other essential equipment ready before collection.

WHY CHOOSE AN OVERWINTERED NUC?

Unlike a package of bees, an overwintered nucleus colony is supplied as an already functioning colony with established comb, brood, stores and a laying queen.

The queen and colony have also successfully come through winter together before being offered for sale.

For the 2027 season we will not be producing package bees, making our overwintered nucleus colonies our principal option for customers looking to buy an established colony from Northumberland Honey Co.

ORDERING OVERWINTERED NUCLEUS COLONIES FOR 2027

Pre-orders open on 1st October 2026.

Our overwintered nucs are produced in limited numbers from our own colonies and queen-rearing programme and are available while stocks last.

£350 per colony, supplied as a 5-frame BS National overwintered nucleus colony in a wooden travelling nuc box and headed by one of our own UK-reared Northumberland Buckfast queens.

All colonies must be collected from Haltwhistle, Northumberland on one of our two 2027 collection dates:

Friday 14th May 2027 — 7:00am–8:00am

Friday 21st May 2027 — 7:00am–8:00am

Please ensure you can attend your selected collection date and time before placing your order.

Please also read our Terms & Conditions for purchases of bees and queens before ordering.