For LANGSTROTH Frames
A calm, healthy Buckfast colony on Langstroth frames, ready to build from May onwards.
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’re running a Flow Hive, an existing Langstroth setup, or you’ve specifically chosen Langstroth frames for your apiary, this is the nuc for you.
Langstroth is the most widely used hive format in the world. The frames are wider than National frames, which gives the colony a bit more room from the start.
Not sure which frame size is right for you? Get in touch and we’ll help you work it out before you order. We’d rather you get the right thing than the wrong thing quickly.
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’ve always great service & positive results from BMH. Two nucs with third on order. Plus a requeen due angry hive. Spot on delivery, top class bees & all very calm with lots of production.
If it ain’t broke don’t fix it. Just not going to bother looking elsewhere, I’m sticking with BMH. It really is that simple.
Excellent service from the start when I placed my order to receiving my bees, good communication throughout , nice calm bees throughly recommended.
All my worries about ordering NYC’s on line have gone thanks to a great experience Laurence at Black Mountain Honey, Communication was great.. All email were answered straight away.
The bees arrived with the postman the next day before 10.00 in great condition.
I was lucky it was a good day and they soon oriented themselves and were bringing pollen back that after noon.
I would definitely use Black Mountain again.
Fabulous service.
Fabulous product (ie calm, well bred bees).
Delivered exactly as promised
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 Langstroth 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.
Yes. Flow Hives use Langstroth frames, which is exactly what this colony is on. This nuc is the right choice for Flow Hive keepers.
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.
