Buy Bees UK – Buckfast Nucleus Colonies for Sale
If you are looking to buy bees in the UK, we offer strong and carefully selected Buckfast nucleus colonies for saleproduced at our honey farm in West Wales.
Our bee nucs for sale are available on both British National frames and Langstroth frames, making them suitable for most UK hive systems including Flow Hive, ANEL plastic hives and standard wooden National hives.
All colonies are headed by young 2026 Buckfast queens and are produced from carefully selected breeding lines chosen for temperament, productivity and suitability for the UK climate.
Our nucs are available for collection or delivery from mid-May 2026 onwards, depending on seasonal conditions.
Our Nucleus Colonies
We produce high quality 5 frame nucleus colonies of bees which are suitable for both beginner and experienced beekeepers.
Each nuc contains:
• A young 2026 Buckfast queen
• A strong colony of worker bees
• Brood in all stages (eggs, larvae and sealed brood)
• Honey stores and pollen
• Frames ready to transfer directly into your hive
Our nucs are available in two formats:
• National nucleus colonies – suitable for standard British National hives
• Langstroth nucleus colonies – suitable for Langstroth hives and Flow Hive systems
All colonies are produced in our own apiaries and are fully inspected and health checked before leaving the farm.
When Are Bees Available?
In the UK, nucleus colonies are typically available from mid-May onwards once colonies have built up strongly in spring.
Our nucs are normally available from May through to July, depending on weather conditions and colony development.
Pre-orders open early each year and we recommend ordering in advance as nucs often sell out before the season begins.
What Is a Nucleus Colony?
A nucleus colony (often called a “nuc”) is a small but fully functioning honeybee colony used to start a new hive.
A typical nuc contains:
• A laying queen
• Worker bees
• Frames of brood in all stages
• Honey and pollen stores
A nuc allows a beekeeper to quickly establish a healthy colony in a full hive and is the most common way to buy bees in the UK.
Why Choose Buckfast Bees?
Buckfast bees are one of the most popular honeybee strains kept by UK beekeepers.
They are well known for:
• Gentle temperament
• Calm behaviour on the comb
• Excellent honey production
• Low swarming tendency
• Strong colony build up in spring
• Adaptation to UK and Welsh climates
These qualities make Buckfast bees suitable for both beginner and experienced beekeepers.
Why Buy Bees From Gwenyn Gruffydd?
Our bees are produced at Gwenyn Gruffydd Honey Farm in West Wales.
We operate as a working honey farm and the nucs we sell are the same bees we use in our own honey production hives.
Reasons to buy from us:
• Established Welsh honey farm
• Carefully selected Buckfast breeding lines
• Gentle and productive bees
• DASH disease accredited apiaries
• Aftercare and support available
• Collection or UK delivery available
Collection or Delivery
Collection is available from:
Gwenyn Gruffydd
SA32 8SE
West Wales
Delivery to UK mainland addresses is also available using Royal Mail Special Delivery.
Nucs are dispatched every Tuesday for Wednesday delivery to ensure safe transport.
New to Beekeeping?
If you are starting your beekeeping journey, we also run our Introduction to Beekeeping Course where we guide beginners through everything needed to start keeping bees successfully.
Our YouTube channel also contains a large library of helpful beekeeping videos and tutorials.
FAQ – Buying Bees in the UK
When can I buy bees in the UK?
Most nucleus colonies become available from May onwards once colonies have developed strongly during spring.
What size nuc should I buy?
Most beekeepers start with a 5 frame nucleus colony, which can easily be transferred into a full hive.
Can bees be delivered in the UK?
Yes. Nucleus colonies can be sent via Royal Mail Special Delivery or courier, although collection is usually preferred as it is less stressful for the bees.