For national Frames
A strong, overwintered Buckfast colony on National frames. Proven survivors, ready to build fast from early spring.
An overwintered nuc is a different product from a summer nuc. These colonies were built last season, spent the winter here in the UK, and have already proved themselves. The queen has laid through a full cycle. The workers have done a winter. You’re not starting from scratch, you’re inheriting something that’s already working.
A summer nuc starts small and builds through the season. An overwintered colony arrives already strong, with a proven queen and a workforce ready to take advantage of the first spring forage.
That matters for two reasons. First, your colony gets going faster. You’ll see rapid build-up from the moment it arrives. Second, your chances of a honey crop in year one are significantly higher. An overwintered colony started in early spring has the whole season ahead of it.
For experienced beekeepers adding to an apiary, or newer beekeepers who want the strongest possible start, this is the better option.
If you have a National hive (or you’re buying a hive and want the most common setup in the UK) this is the starter colony (NUC) for you.
National is the British standard. It’s the most widely used hive format in the country, which means equipment is easy to find, local beekeeping associations will be familiar with it, and you’ll never struggle for advice or spare parts.
Not sure which frame size is right for you? Have a Flow Hive? Flow Hives use Langstroth frames, so you’ll want to order that version instead. If you’re not sure, get in touch and we’ll help you work it out before you order.
After you order:
We don’t disappear after the sale. You can contact us before, during, and after introduction. We’ve also got a library of YouTube videos, guides, blog posts, and live streams that cover most questions before you even need to ask them.
I will not receive the nuc until next Spring , but I found the process easy and follow-up emails helpful. In an ideal world I would have liked A VSH Queen in the nuc , but I will swap her out in the Autumn probably ( or not if she is well earning her keep) . I found the wording of Uk mated VSH Buckfast and Buckfast mated VSH a bit confusing. Perhaps ‘our own 50% VSH or 100% VSH would have been a better wording .
Superb experience! Emailed late evening Black Mountain Honey about arranging delivery dates of the bees just before putting the deposit down and Lawrence replied within 15 minutes!
Plenty of support information and youtube links sent by email after paying deposit to ensure you know help is always there.
Just an amazing set up you have Lawrence and your youtube – No Nonsense Beekeeping is excellent.
Highly recommend and look forward to the bees arrival in 2026.
Thank you so much Lawrence.
:0)
I purchased nucleus from BMH on the back of the video tutorials.
After watching dozens of them I have confidence that this will be a lot simpler to keep bees going forward,for me a lot of the myth has been taken out of it.
With good straight forward advice.
I received my very first colony of bees mid May. The communication from Black Mountain Honey has been great, with up-dates on delivery and even an email about what to do when your bees arrive! The bees have settled in very well and I can’t wait to harvest my first honey!
Our summer National nucs are available from May through to June each season. Exact availability depends on the season, so it’s worth getting your order in early. We dispatch in strict date order, first come first served.
Your nuc is shipped in a free Paynes poly nuc box via Royal Mail Special Delivery. It’s a signature-required service, so make sure someone will be in to receive it. The poly nuc is ventilated and purpose-built for safe postal delivery. We’ve shipped thousands of colonies this way and the bees arrive in excellent condition.
Queens are shipped in secure postal cages with attendant bees and food via Royal Mail Special Delivery (£9.99). This is a signature-required service and cannot be posted through your letterbox. Delivery is tracked so you know exactly when to expect them. We’ve shipped thousands of queens safely using this method.
Contact us immediately with a photo of what you’ve received. We’ll sort it out. We stand behind every colony we send.
Yes. You’ll need a National hive ready to receive your colony. If you’re not sure what equipment you need, our Fundamentals and Beehives course modules walk you through exactly what to buy and how to set it up. Or just ask us before you order.
No. Flow Hives use Langstroth frames, not National frames. If you have a Flow Hive, you need our Summer Starter Colony (Langstroth) instead. Still not sure? Get in touch and we’ll point you in the right direction.
Summer nucs build fast in warm weather. Within a few weeks, your colony should be filling out and the queen will be laying well across multiple frames. By midsummer, a well-managed colony on National frames can be a full, strong hive.
Quite possibly. Summer nucs started in May have the best chance. It depends on your local forage, the weather, and how your colony develops. Six-frame nucs have a real advantage over five-frame nucs for building quickly. Many of our customers do get a harvest in their first season. We won’t promise it, but it’s genuinely possible.
Everything. Contact us before, during, or after your colony arrives. Ask as many questions as you like. There are NO silly questions. We also have a library of YouTube videos, guides, and live streams covering most questions you’ll ever have as a beekeeper.
