Starting out in beekeeping is exciting. It’s also easy to feel overwhelmed, especially if your first colony turns out hot and defensive. Spend a summer nervous every time you lift the lid and it puts you off before you’ve really started. We keep things simple. You get a strong, healthy colony of calm bees on the UK’s most common frame size, and we’re here for every question that follows.

What is a nuc?

A nuc, short for nucleus colony, is a small but complete working colony. It has a laying queen, workers, and brood in all stages, all running together as one settled unit. Think of it as a hive that’s already up and going, just at a smaller scale, ready to expand into a full brood box.

That’s the appeal for a new beekeeper. Start with a nuc rather than a swarm or a package of bees and you skip the riskiest early weeks. The queen is already mated and laying, the colony already knows her, and there’s brood on the frames from day one. Everything is settled and working from the moment your colony arrives.

A National nuc is simply a nuc built on National frames, the British standard.

Why National?

If you keep bees on a National hive, or you’re buying your first hive and want the setup most beekeepers in the UK use, this is the nuc for you.

National is the British standard. It’s the most widely used hive format in the country. Equipment is easy to find, your local association will know it inside out, and you’ll never struggle for spare parts or advice.

Got a Flow Hive? Flow Hives take Langstroth frames, so you’ll want our Flow Hive Nucs instead. Not sure which frame size you need? Contact us before you order and we’ll help you work it out.

Why buy your nuc from us

• Calm by design. Temperament is our number one breeding priority, not an afterthought. Our bees are rated 10 out of 10 for temperament by beginners, and calm enough to work in a t-shirt.
• Mated F1 Buckfast queen. Every nuc is headed by a calm, proven Buckfast queen from breeding programmes with more than 75 years of combined family expertise behind them.
• Free poly nuc, worth over £75. Every colony travels in a free Paynes poly nuc, ventilated and purpose-built for postal delivery. It’s the safest way for your bees to reach you, and it’s yours to keep.
• Safe arrival, guaranteed. Every colony ships Royal Mail Special Delivery. If anything arrives in poor condition, we’ll sort it. No arguments.
• Support every step of the way. Help before, during, and after your colony arrives, plus a library of guides and videos that answer most questions before you need to ask.

Which National nuc is right for you, overwintered or summer?

We offer National nucs in two forms. Both are calm, healthy, ve-frame Buckfast colonies. The difference is the timing and how far along the colony is when it reaches you.

Overwintered National nuc.

A proven survivor. This colony has already come through a Welsh winter together, with a queen it knows and trusts. It arrives strong, with no settling-in period, and builds fast from early spring. It’s the better choice if you want the strongest possible start and the best chance of a honey crop in your first season. Overwintered nucs are dispatched from March onwards, in strict date order.

Summer National nuc.

A calm, healthy colony raised in season and ready to build from May onwards, at £350. It starts a little later than an overwintered colony and builds through the summer. A great option if you’re starting mid-season or a beginner wanting a straightforward first season.

Getting your nuc started

Moving your bees into their new home is simpler than most people fear, and we’ll walk you through it. Before your nuc arrives, have a National hive set up and ready, with a floor, brood box, frames, crownboard, and roof all in place.

When the colony arrives, transfer the frames across into your brood box in the same order, keep everything calm, and let the bees settle. Within a few weeks in good conditions you’ll see the queen laying across fresh frames and the colony filling out. By midsummer, a well-managed National nuc can be a full, strong hive.

Introduction and setup guides come with every colony, and you can contact us at any point. There are no silly questions.

New to all of this? Read Getting Started in Beekeeping for everything to have ready before your bees arrive, and When to Do Your First Inspection for what to do once they’re in.

Common Questions