Most people starting out get handed a small summer split or a swarm and spend the season nervous about whether it will build up in time for winter. An overwintered nuc takes that worry off the table. These bees have already done a winter together, so they arrive strong and ready to go.
Reserve your overwintered nuc, from £375 with free UK delivery.
Free UK delivery, and a live arrival guarantee or we replace your colony free.
What is an overwintered nuc?
A nuc, short for nucleus colony, is a small working colony built around a laying queen, a few frames of brood, and the bees to cover them. An overwintered nuc is one that was built the previous summer, fed and prepared for the cold, and kept through the winter as a colony.
That extra time matters. A summer nuc is created fresh in season and starts small. An overwintered nuc has already proved it can survive the hardest part of the year. The queen has laid through a full cycle, and the workers have done a winter together. When it lands on your doorstep in spring, it is not starting from scratch. It carries on from where it left off.
Why choose an overwintered nuc?
A summer nuc gives you a fresh start. An overwintered nuc gives you a head start.
Because the colony is already established when it arrives, you see rapid build-up from the first warm spell rather than waiting for a small colony to find its feet. That brings two real advantages. You get more bees earlier in the season, and you stand a far better chance of a honey crop in your first year.
For anyone adding to an apiary, or a newer beekeeper who wants the strongest possible footing, an overwintered colony is the more reliable choice.
Why buy your overwintered nuc from us
- Proven survivors. Every colony has come through a full winter here in our care, with a queen who has already shown she can perform.
- Calm Buckfast bees. Temperament is our top breeding priority. Our F1 Buckfast queens are bred for calm handling, disease resistance, and strong honey production.
- Free Paynes poly nuc. Worth over £75 and included with every order. It is ventilated, purpose-built for postal delivery, and the safest way for your bees to travel.
- Healthy arrival, guaranteed. Every colony ships by Royal Mail Special Delivery. If anything arrives in poor condition, send us a photo and we’ll sort it.
- Support every step of the way. Help before, during, and after your colony arrives, plus guides and videos that answer most questions before you need to ask.
We’re DASH accredited and members of the Bee Farmers Association. Fewer than 0.05% of our shipments have a problem, we respond to enquiries within 24 hours, and we dispatch on the date we promise.
Which overwintered nuc is right for you?
Every overwintered nuc we sell is a calm, five-frame F1 Buckfast colony. The only real decision is frame size, and that comes down to the hive you keep.
National hives. The Overwintered Starter Colony – National suits the most common hive in the UK. If you run a National, or you’re buying a standard setup, this is the one for you.
Langstroth and Flow Hives. The Overwintered Starter Colony – Langstroth is built on Langstroth frames, which is exactly what a Flow Hive uses. Pick this if you keep either.
Not sure which frame size you need? Get in touch and we’ll help you work it out before you order. If you’d rather start with a fresh-season colony, take a look at our Summer Nucs.
Setting up your overwintered colony
Getting a new colony settled is simpler than most people fear, and you’ll have everything you need to do it well. You’ll need a hive ready and waiting before your bees arrive, in the frame size that matches your nuc.
When the colony lands, you transfer the frames into your hive, keep them in the same order, and let the bees settle. Setup and introduction guides come with every order, and our video library walks through the whole process. If you get stuck at any point, contact us. There are no silly questions.
New to all of this? Our guide to Getting Started in Beekeeping covers equipment, setup, and what to expect before your first colony arrives.
What beekeepers say
Learn why beekeepers choose us.Very Satisfied
BMH are good to deal with , and I have been very happy with the overwintered nuc, and 2 sets of queens.
Very pleased, thank you Laurence
My overwintered Nuc arrived on the 3/4 exactly on time. Despite some appalling weather the bees settled in well. Now in a full colony & expanding rapidly. Very pleased, thank you Laurence.
Delighted with purchase
I have recently purchased two colonies of overwintered bees and so far i am absolutely delighted with the service and information i have received.
From ordering to delivery i was kept well informed and always knew what was happening next, (for someone who was only just stepping into bee keeping this was reassuring). The videos that are also on YouTube are extremely helpful especially the “my first nuke” series.
Common Questions
Our overwintered nucs are usually available from March through to June, though exact timing depends on the weather and how the colonies are developing. They sell out fast, so we dispatch in strict date order, first come first served, and it’s worth ordering early.
Summer nucs are created fresh each season from a split and a new queen, and they start small. Overwintered nucs were built last summer and have spent the winter as an established colony. The queen is proven, the workers are experienced, and the colony arrives further ahead than a summer nuc would be at the same point in the year.
Your colony ships in a free Paynes poly nuc box by 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.
Your chances are better with an overwintered nuc than with a summer nuc. A strong colony started in early spring has the whole season ahead of it. It still depends on your local forage and the weather, so we won’t promise it, but many of our customers do get a harvest in their first year.
Choose National if you run a standard National hive, the most common setup in the UK. Choose Langstroth if you have a Langstroth hive or a Flow Hive, as Flow Hives use Langstroth frames. If you’re unsure, get in touch before you order and we’ll help you work it out.
Contact us straight away with a photo of what you’ve received and we’ll sort it out. We stand behind every colony we send.
Reserve your overwintered nuc, from £375 with free UK delivery.
Free UK delivery, and a live arrival guarantee or we replace your colony free.
