Starting a new colony or expanding your apiary should be exciting, but choosing the right bees can leave you with questions. Will the colony be strong enough? Is the queen established and laying well? And will the bees build up quickly enough to make the most of the spring season? These are important considerations when buying bees, particularly if you're a new beekeeper.
Our overwintered nucs offer reassurance. Raised and managed in Dorset, these colonies have already come through a British winter with an established, UK-mated queen. Rather than starting with a newly assembled colony, you're buying bees that have already developed and survived together, giving them a valuable head start as spring arrives.
Each colony is supplied on fresh frames in a Paynes poly nuc and contains locally adapted bees selected for calmness, productivity and suitability for British conditions. Our colonies are inspected, managed for Varroa and maintained following National Bee Unit (NBU) hygiene guidance, giving both beginners and experienced beekeepers greater confidence in their purchase.
Choose from National overwintered nucs or Langstroth overwintered nucs , depending on your hive system. Both options are prepared for spring development, with availability planned from April 2027.
We offer free Dorset hand delivery, free UK shipping via Royal Mail Special Delivery by 1pm, and collection by arrangement. You'll also receive ongoing advice and support as your colony develops. If you're comparing other ways to start beekeeping, explore our honey bees for sale in the UK guide.
Choose your April 2027 overwintered colony in National or Langstroth format. Both options are £330, with free UK delivery and ongoing beekeeper support.
Our National overwintered nucs have successfully come through a Dorset winter with an established, UK-mated queen. Supplied on fresh frames in a 6-frame Paynes poly nuc, these locally adapted colonies are prepared for spring development, with availability planned from April 2027.
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Our Langstroth overwintered nucs offer the same early-season advantage for Langstroth hive owners. Raised and overwintered in Dorset, each colony has an established, UK-mated queen and calm, locally adapted bees. Supplied on fresh frames in a 6-frame Paynes poly nuc, with availability planned from April 2027.
View productOverwintered nucs are small, established honey bee colonies prepared during the previous summer and cared for throughout autumn and winter. Our overwintered nucleus colonies are raised in Dorset, with established UK-mated queens, and managed through the British winter in Paynes poly nucs. By April, they have already experienced a full winter together rather than being freshly assembled for spring sale.
Our colonies are prepared for winter with appropriate feeding, Varroa management and regular monitoring. Each overwintered nuc has successfully come through a British winter before being prepared for spring sale.
Our overwintered nucs contain locally adapted bees headed by UK-mated queens raised in Dorset. We select for calm behaviour, good colony development and suitability for British beekeeping conditions.
With an established laying queen, brood and food stores, a healthy overwintered colony is well placed to develop as temperatures rise and forage becomes available. This gives you an earlier start than waiting for a new-season nuc.
Colonies are inspected before dispatch, with health management and hygiene practices following National Bee Unit guidance. You'll also receive ongoing advice and support from Jurassic Bees as your colony develops.
Every overwintered nucleus colony supplied by Jurassic Bees is prepared in line with National Bee Unit guidance for the sale of nucleus colonies. Each nuc contains an established colony with a proven queen, brood and food stores, carefully inspected before release. Your 6-frame overwintered nuc costs £330, including the Paynes poly nuc box and free UK delivery.
Each nuc is supplied on 6 National or Langstroth frames, depending on your chosen hive format. All frames and comb are new or less than 8 months old, having been built during the previous season. We do not supply colonies on old or recycled brood comb.
Each colony is headed by a proven, marked, UK-mated queen, raised and mated in Dorset. Her laying pattern and colony development are checked before release, providing reassurance that you are receiving an established, functioning colony.
Your bees arrive in a brand new 6-frame Paynes poly nuc box, included in the £330 purchase price. The insulated poly box provides a practical home for your colony until you are ready to transfer the frames into your own hive.
Colonies are managed for Varroa using appropriate seasonal treatments and integrated pest management. We follow National Bee Unit hygiene and biosecurity guidance, inspect colonies before dispatch, and maintain records of their health management.
Delivery included: Free UK delivery via Royal Mail Special Delivery by 1pm, free Dorset hand delivery, or collection by arrangement. We also provide ongoing beekeeping advice and support after your colony arrives.
Choose your National or Langstroth overwintered nuc and reserve online with a £50 deposit. Each colony costs £330, with the remaining £280 payable by BACS at least 28 days before your agreed delivery or collection date. We'll confirm your reservation and explain the next steps.
Reserve NowExplore our nucleus colonies and learn more about beekeeping with our step-by-step guides.
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