Why the queen matters more than anything
Get the queen right and everything gets easier. Get her wrong and you’ll spend the season fighting problems. She sets the temperament of the whole colony, how much honey you get, and how well the bees handle disease.
So the job is simple. Buy a queen that suits your setup, and don’t waste money getting it wrong. Every queen we sell is calm, proven, and bred to thrive in UK conditions. The differences come down to where the genetics come from and what you want out of your bees.
The queen we don’t sell (and why)
Let’s clear this one up first, because we get asked all the time. We don’t sell AMM (Apis mellifera mellifera). You might know it as the native dark bee, the British black bee, or the local black bee.
We tried working with AMM stock for about four years and couldn’t consistently control the temperament. Laurence got stung so many times he had to stop keeping them. If we can’t reliably promise you calm bees, we won’t sell them to beginners, bee farmers, or anyone who needs manageable colonies. We’d rather be honest than sell you something that makes your beekeeping miserable.
Here’s the useful part. A lot of people come to us wanting that dark, native look, then compare the options properly and go for our Obsidian line instead. More on that below.
Our queen lines
Every queen we sell is an F1 Buckfast mated queen, bred for calm temperament, strong honey production, and natural disease resistance. Here’s what makes each line different.
Signature
Recommended
The queens most of our customers choose and come back for year after year. These represent the typical Black Mountain Honey experience: proven performance, calm temperament, and strong productivity.
UK queens
Bred and mated in secluded UK breeding stations by trusted family producers we’ve worked with for years. Fully acclimated to British weather, proven to thrive through wet summers and cold winters. The natural choice if you want locally raised bees.
VSH
Bred for Varroa Sensitive Hygiene. These bees actively detect and remove Varroa-infested brood. A smart choice if you want bees that help manage mite pressure naturally, without relying solely on treatments.
Obsidian
Our darkest line, and a favourite for anyone who loves a bit of character in the hive. They fly in cooler conditions, produce huge amounts of wonderfully fragrant propolis, and stay lovely and calm to work. A brilliant pick for an apitherapy setup.
How to choose
Still deciding? Here’s the short version.
- Want a locally reared queen, acclimatised to British weather? Go UK.
- Want our exclusive, proven house genetics? Go Signature.
- Worried about Varroa and want natural help managing it? Go VSH.
- Want a calm, dark, propolis-rich colony that flies in cooler weather? Go Obsidian.
Whichever you pick, you’re getting calm, consistent bees that perform season after season. Every queen is personally approved by Laurence before she leaves our apiaries, and every purchase comes with unlimited support.
Ready to choose your queen?
Have a look at the Queens and pick the one that fits your setup. Not sure? Just ask us and we’ll help you decide. We’re here every step of the way.
