{"product_id":"essex-buckfast-queen","title":"Essex Buckfast Queen 2026","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eEssex Buckfast Queen 2026 – The Perfect UK Mated Queen for Your Hive\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003e🐝\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEssex Buckfast Queens\u003c\/strong\u003e, exclusive to BS Honey Bees Ltd. Tested over the last 9 years from high quality Buckfast mothers, now mating in England, producing some lovely Essex girls!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eAvailable for 2026\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul type=\"disc\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e🗓️\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eDispatch Window\u003c\/b\u003e: Mid-late May 2026 – early August 2026.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e🚚\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eDelivery Options\u003c\/b\u003e: 7 days a week via\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eRoyal Mail Special Delivery®\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e(excluding bank holidays).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e📦\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eReal-Time Stock Control\u003c\/b\u003e: Select your dispatch date above (note: this is the day we ship your order, not the delivery date).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eYour Order Includes\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul type=\"disc\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e🐝\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eA\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003emarked\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e(White for 2026),\u003cspan\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eUK \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eopen-mated\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eunclipped\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e,\u003cspan\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eEssex\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e Buckfast Queen\u003c\/b\u003e, accompanied by 4–6 attendant bees in a\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eslow-release candy introduction cage\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e(Nicot, Lyson, JzBz or equivalent).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e📄\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eA full-colour, double-sided\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003einstruction guide\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ecovering multiple introduction methods and scenarios.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Queen Introduction Gudelines\" href=\"https:\/\/bshoneybees.pro\/pages\/queenintro\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eView full guidelines here.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e📦\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eA ventilated “LIVE BEES” jiffy bag or larger secure box (depending on order size).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBeginner Alert!\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003e🚨\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eRead This First\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eYou\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eCANNOT\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003estart a bee colony with just a queen! A queen accompanied by a few attendants cannot establish a colony. To build a healthy hive, you’ll need a\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eNuc of bees\u003c\/b\u003e, which includes a minimum of 10,000 bees.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Nucs of Bees\" href=\"https:\/\/bshoneybees.pro\/collections\/nucs\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eLearn more here.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhy Choose BS Honey Bees Ltd?\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eWe are a small, independent UK business with over a decade of expertise in breeding and selling live bees. In 2011, we revolutionised the online sale of live bees and queens, providing an easy, reliable, and convenient way to buy. With our bespoke system, you can select your desired dispatch date and enjoy peace of mind knowing you're purchasing from the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eUK’s No.1 Queen Bee Supplier.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eBy supporting BS Honey Bees Ltd, you’re supporting the UK economy and a business dedicated to high-quality service and customer satisfaction.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e⭐ \u003cb\u003eDon’t just take our word for it – check our Trustpilot reviews -\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-theme=\"light\" data-style-width=\"100%\" data-style-height=\"20px\" data-businessunit-id=\"5ba26ac8afa8530001888356\" data-template-id=\"5419b6ffb0d04a076446a9af\" data-locale=\"en-GB\" class=\"trustpilot-widget\"\u003e\u003ciframe src=\"https:\/\/widget.trustpilot.com\/trustboxes\/5419b6ffb0d04a076446a9af\/index.html?templateId=5419b6ffb0d04a076446a9af\u0026amp;businessunitId=5ba26ac8afa8530001888356#locale=en-GB\u0026amp;styleHeight=20px\u0026amp;styleWidth=100%25\u0026amp;theme=light\" loading=\"auto\" title=\"Customer reviews powered by Trustpilot\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eOur Breeding Standards\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eOur Essex Buckfast Queens come\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003efrom a leading UK Bee Farmer using\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003epedigree lines\u003c\/b\u003e, including Dr. Peter Stöfen \u0026amp; Ivan Bjorholm Nielsen. These premium genetics ensure queens with exceptional productivity and temperament.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Essex Buckfast Breed\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cu\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/u\u003eThe Buckfast bee is a cross of many species of bees into a stable race developed by \"Brother Adam\", (born Karl Kehrle on 3 August 1898 in Germany), who was in charge of beekeeping at Buckfast Abbey, Devon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Essex Buckfasts have been selectively bred from german mothers here in England and open mated with Buckfast drone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the early 20th century bee populations were being decimated by Isle of Wight disease. This condition, later called \"acarine\" disease, after the acarine parasitic mite that invaded the bees' tracheal tubes and shortened their lives, was killing off thousands of colonies in the British Isles in the early part of the 20th century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1916, Brother Adam discovered a feral colony which was a hybrid between A.m. ligurica (North Italian) and A.m. mellifera (English). Brother Adam collected the bees and from this began to develop what would come to be known as the Buckfast bee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Buckfast bee is popular among beekeepers and is available from bee breeders in Germany, Ireland, the United Kingdom, France, and more. Most of the Buckfast bee's qualities are very favourable. They are extremely gentle and highly productive. Brother Adam, in his book, Beekeeping at Buckfast Abbey writes that in 1920 they obtained \"an average of no less than 192 lbs surplus per colony and individual yields exceeding 3 cwt [approx. 336 lbs].\" In the 1986 BBC-affiliated documentary, The Monk and the Honey Bee, more than 400 pounds of honey are reported to have been produced by a single Buckfast colony. According to Brother Adam, \"The average annual honey yield over the last thirty years has been 30 kg (66 lb.) per colony. Thus we have a favourable balance compared with the average production in America or in Europe.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BS Honey Bees","offers":[{"title":"Thu 6th August - Wed 12th August 2026","offer_id":52209153540429,"sku":"essex26-0608","price":46.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Thu 7th May - Wed 13th May 2026","offer_id":50270914412877,"sku":"essex26-0705","price":46.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"Thu 14th May - Wed 20th May 2026","offer_id":50270914445645,"sku":"essex26-1405","price":46.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"Thu 21st May - Wed 27th May 2026 (Bank Holiday)","offer_id":50270914478413,"sku":"essex26-2105","price":46.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"Thu 28th May - Wed 3rd June 2026","offer_id":50270914511181,"sku":"essex26-2805","price":46.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"Thu 4th June - Wed 10th June 2026","offer_id":50270914543949,"sku":"essex26-0406","price":46.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"Thu 11th June - Wed 17th June 2026","offer_id":50270914576717,"sku":"essex26-1106","price":46.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"Thu 18th June - Wed 24th June 2026","offer_id":50270914609485,"sku":"essex26-1806","price":46.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"Thu 25th June - Wed 1st July 2026","offer_id":50270914642253,"sku":"essex26-2506","price":46.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"Thu 2nd July - Wed 8th July 2026","offer_id":50270914675021,"sku":"essex26-0207","price":46.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"Thu 9th July - Wed 15th July 2026","offer_id":50270914707789,"sku":"essex26-0907","price":46.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"Thu 16th July - Wed 22nd July 2026","offer_id":50270914740557,"sku":"essex26-1607","price":46.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"Thu 23rd July - Wed 29th July 2026","offer_id":52125443227981,"sku":"essex26-2307","price":46.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"Thu 30th July - Wed 5th August 2026","offer_id":52125450109261,"sku":"essex26-3007","price":46.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0835\/7947\/0157\/files\/queen_1.jpg?v=1727292087","url":"https:\/\/bshoneybees.pro\/products\/essex-buckfast-queen","provider":"BS Honey Bees Limited","version":"1.0","type":"link"}