Nucleus Colonies of Bees for Sale – Isle of Lewis
Looking to expand your apiary or start beekeeping with bees that are well suited to the unique conditions of the Isle of Lewis?
At Hebribees Honey, we’re pleased to offer a limited number of locally raised Buckfast VSH Bees for sale here in the Outer Hebrides for £320 with collection during June 2027.
Our colonies are established on the Isle of Lewis, allowing them to become adapted to our local climate, forage and challenging weather conditions.
Why Choose Our Bees?
Our bees combine the benefits of quality Buckfast VSH breeding with colonies that have been established and managed here on the Isle of Lewis.
Established in the Outer Hebrides
Although the queens originate from carefully selected breeding stock, every nuc is built from colonies managed on our own apiary on the Isle of Lewis. They are exposed to our local forage, Atlantic weather and shorter beekeeping season before being offered for sale.
Reduced Transport Stress
Unlike imported colonies that may spend several days travelling, our bees are collected directly from our apiary, reducing transport stress and helping them settle into their new home more quickly.
What type of bees are they?
Our colonies are headed by carefully selected Buckfast VSH queens sourced from a respected UK breeder. The colonies are then established, managed here on the Isle of Lewis before being offered for sale.
This combination provides the benefits of proven Buckfast VSH genetics alongside colonies that are already accustomed to the unique conditions of the Outer Hebrides.
By combining proven Buckfast VSH genetics with locally established colonies, we aim to provide calm, productive bees that are well suited to beekeeping in the Hebrides.
Buying locally raised colonies helps strengthen beekeeping across Lewis and Harris while reducing the need for imported bees from further afield.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between a package and a nuc?
A package contains loose worker bees and a queen but no comb or brood. A nuc is already an established miniature colony with brood, food stores and drawn comb. Nucs generally establish more quickly, while packages allow bees to build entirely new comb.
If you’re a new beekeeper with a National hive, many people prefer starting with a nuc because the colony is already established.
What will I receive?
On collection you will receive a travel box containing 5 DN4 National Frames with brood, stores, bees and marked new season queen.
What happens after I pay my deposit?
Once you have reserved your nucleus of bees you will receive a confirmation email. As we enter spring you shall receive an update of their progress and two weeks before collection you shall receive a collection date and invoice for the final balance of payment.
Are payments or deposits refundable?
Deposits are not refundable. This is because once paid your nuc is reserved and preparations begin.
If you wish to cancel your order after making the final payment we shall strive to sell your nuc to someone else on our waiting list. If we are able to do this we shall refund your full payment (less the deposit).
If we are unable to sell your nuc and you are unable to receive your nucleus of bees then we shall refund 50% of the total price. The remainder of the balance covers our costs incurred for producing and caring for the nuc.
If we are unable to supply your nucleus of bees we shall offer a full refund or an alternative collection date.
What type of bees do you keep?
We keep adapted Buckfast bees, chosen for their temperament and suitability for Hebridean conditions.
You can read more about why we chose them in “Buckfast Bees in the Hebrides” on the blog.
Will the queen be marked?
Yes. Queens supplied with our nucs will be marked using the international queen marking colour for the year.
When are they available?
Collection is planned for June 2027.
The exact dates depend on weather and colony development. We can do our best to supply your bees on time but we can’t change the weather! You shall be notified two weeks before collection.
How many bees will be available?
Only a limited number of nucs will be produced each year. Our initial Spring release (for collection in June) is just 10 for 2027.
Quality is far more important to us than producing large numbers, so availability will always be limited.
Can you post bees?
No. We aim to supply bees here on the island, to save the risks associated with posting boxes of bees.
To minimise stress on the bees and ensure they arrive in the best possible condition, all colonies are available for collection only.
Do you offer apiary visits or beekeeping updates?
We occasionally share opportunities for visits, open days, or behind-the-scenes looks at the apiary. These are announced via our Facebook page and the blog, so keep an eye there for the latest news.
Join the Waiting List
If you’d like to reserve locally adapted Buckfast bees for the 2027 season, we’d love to hear from you.
Whether you’re starting your very first hive or expanding your apiary, our aim is simple: to provide locally raised bees that are well suited to life in the Outer Hebrides.
June 2027 availability – Limited numbers – Collection from Uig, Isle of Lewis
How can I keep up with Hebribees news?
For everything from honey releases to apiary stories:
- 👉 Follow Hebribees on Facebook
- 👉 Read our Beekeeping Updates and Articles on the Croft5 blog
That’s where we share the most up-to-date information.
I have another question, where can I ask it?
If we haven’t covered the answer above then please send us a message via our contact page