Exciting News Across All Our UK Apiaries!
We are absolutely thrilled to share a major milestone for Buckley’s Bees! Following months of working closely with DEFRA’s National Bee Unit (NBU), official health assessments have been completed across all of our bee colonies throughout the UK.
The results are in and every single colony assessed has been officially certified with a 100% clean bill of health! Our bees are healthy, thriving and completely disease-free.
Watch Emma’s video below for the full announcement right from the hives:
Working with the National Bee Unit (NBU)
At Buckley’s Bees, working closely with the NBU isn’t just a requirement, it’s a core responsibility that every ethical beekeeper and bee breeder should take seriously.
The NBU’s rigorous inspections and expert monitoring help identify and control notifiable bee diseases, protecting not only individual apiaries but the entire UK beekeeping community.
- Healthy Bees = Stronger Colonies
- Thriving Colonies = Better Pollination
- Responsible Beekeeping = A Secure Future for British Wildlife
Achieving this disease-free certification was a true team effort and we want to extend a massive thank you to all the hard-working beekeepers across the Buckley’s Bees team who make this standard possible, as well as the NBU inspectors for their invaluable support in safeguarding British honey bees.
Why Where You Source Your Bees Matters
If you are a new or experienced beekeeper, or maybe you’re thinking about buying bees to start your own hive, knowing where your bees come from is critical.
When choosing a supplier, always ask:
- Are they assessed by the NBU? Can they demonstrate active health monitoring?
- Are they British-reared? Were the bees bred locally or imported from abroad?
- What biosecurity measures are in place?
The Hidden Risks of Imported Bees
Imported bee stocks, particularly from continental Europe, carry high risks of introducing destructive pests and diseases that are not yet established in the UK. This includes threats like the Small Hive Beetle and the Tropilaelaps mite, which could devastate local bee populations if allowed to spread.
Say No to Imports: Buy British, Buy Healthy
Buying healthy, locally bred, disease-free bees is the single best way to protect your own apiary and prevent the spread of diseases nationwide.
When you choose Buckley’s Bees, you are supporting local, sustainable British beekeeping with the guarantee of NBU-certified healthy stock.
🇬🇧 Buy British. Buy healthy. Support local honey bees! 🐝💛
Having spent over 60 years working alongside honeybees, I can tell you with absolute certainty that beekeeping is far more than a trade, it is a lifelong calling.