British bees available throughout the UK

Supplied and supported by a team of experienced beekeepers

Orders open for 2026 NUC orders

Buy British Bees

Backed by 60 years of breeding experience!

British bees on a frame

Perfectly suited to our environment

Our British-bred Apis mellifera mellifera are uniquely adapted to the UK’s climate ensuring your colony is built for long-term survival.

Protecting native genetics

Support a science-backed mission to strengthen native traits and reduce the reliance on cheap imports that can dilute local bee populations.

Unmatched expertise and quality

Our colonies are bred to the highest standards, including regular inspections aligned with National Bee Unit (NBU) guidance.

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Why choose the native British Black Bee?

The European Dark Honey Bee (Apis mellifera mellifera) has evolved to thrive in Britain since the Ice Age. Unlike imported strains, our native bees are naturally resilient, frugal with winter stores and are generally longer-lived. They will:

  • Fly and forage earlier and in lower temperatures.
  • Typically require less feeding through Spring and Autumn.
  • Often be calmer and easier to handle for beekeepers of all experience levels.
  • Create a more sustainable future for UK beekeeping.

Imported strains, whilst often more prolific, do not typically cope with our climate as well as the European Dark Honey Bee. Consequently, they can experience a greater demand for substitute feed and frequency of colony losses. Second-generation imported strains (sometimes referred to as F2 Buckfast bees) and their offspring can show greater defensive behaviour too.

Four of our bee hives in the Cheshire countryside
One of our British bee keepers

Secure the future of UK Beekeeping

British-bred Queen Bee

Your start to a healthy, productive colony

We proudly offer quality assured 5/6 frame nucleus colonies (NUCs) of British bred bees, nurtured in line with UK best practice and guidance from the National Bee Unit (NBU).

Key features of our bees

  • Mated & Marked Queen: Headed by a British bred mated queen.

  • Critical Mass of Bees: Well populated with thousands of healthy worker bees.

  • Brood at All Stages: Includes two/three frames with eggs, larvae and capped brood for immediate momentum.

  • Sustainable & Reusable: Supplied in durable, reusable poly NUC boxes for protection and future NUC production.

  • NBU-Aligned Health Checks: Regularly inspected and monitored for disease and varroa.

  • Sold on British National frames as standard, with Langstroth frames available upon request.

Our conservation legacy

Our story is rooted in generations of commitment. From David Buckley’s lifelong membership in BIBBA to Emma Buckley’s role as a BIBBA trustee and SICAMM main board member, our work is grounded in scientific integrity and a lifelong commitment to restoring Apis mellifera mellifera genetics across Europe. When you buy from us, you’re not just buying bees—you’re investing in:

  • Sustainable beekeeping practices.
  • The conservation of Britain’s natural heritage.
  • Colonies suited to thrive in your specific region through our network of local breeders.