About Us – Bishops Bees | UK Honeybee Farm & Queen Breeder
Our Story
Bishops Bees began as a personal passion for beekeeping and has grown into a trusted UK-based honeybee farm specialising in queen breeding, nuc production, and beekeeper education. Based in the rolling countryside of North Devon, near the edge of Exmoor National Park, we focus on producing consistent, high-quality UK-bred queens and strong nucleus colonies — supporting both new and experienced beekeepers across Britain.
Founded by Darren, Bishops Bees was developed out of a desire to improve the availability of well-bred, British-hardened stock. Early on, Darren recognised the growing reliance on imported queens and the lack of consistent UK breeding programmes. With a background rooted in a lifelong fascination with natural systems, evolution, and the way species adapt, he became deeply interested in honeybee genetics — and how targeted selection could genuinely improve colony health, temperament and resilience.
This curiosity led Darren to train in the highly specialised skill of Instrumental Insemination of honeybee queens (II), quickly becoming one of the few active practitioners of II in the UK. Today, Bishops Bees not only uses II to maintain and refine our own breeding lines, but Darren now teaches the technique to others — drawing students from across the UK and abroad who want to develop true genetic control in their own programmes.
Seeing a gap in accessible, practical UK queen breeding knowledge, Darren has made training a core part of the business. Beekeeping courses — from beginner handling to advanced breeding — now sit right at the heart of Bishops Bees. Our aim is not just to sell bees, but to help develop better beekeepers, better breeding, and a more self-sufficient UK beekeeping landscape.
“Darren inspecting hives with his son Jacob”
From a handful of hives to a nationally recognised breeding operation, our mission remains the same:
To strengthen UK beekeeping through responsible breeding, education, sustainability, and the sharing of practical knowledge.
What We Do
At Bishops Bees, we specialise in:
- Queen Bees: Instrumentally inseminated and open-mated queens, carefully bred for productivity, gentleness, disease resistance, and successful overwintering.
- Nucleus Colonies (NUCs): Healthy, well-established colonies ready for your hives, including overwintered nucs for a strong start to the season.
- Honey: Pure, locally-produced Devon honey, harvested and minimally processed to preserve natural flavour and nutrients.
- Education & Training: Hands-on courses covering practical beekeeping, queen rearing, and instrumental insemination, designed for all skill levels.
- Beekeeping Equipment: Tried-and-tested tools and consumables.
“At Bishops Bees, our mission is to support sustainable beekeeping and promote healthy, resilient honeybee colonies throughout the UK. We provide top-quality queen bees, nucleus colonies, and expert-led courses to help beekeepers of all levels thrive”
Queen breeding & Instrumental Insemination
“We raise UK-bred queens using open-mating and instrumental insemination, focusing on traits like docility, productivity, disease resistance, and climate adaptation.”
“Our pure Devon honey is harvested and minimally processed to retain flavour and natural benefits”
Why Choose Bishops Bees
- Locally bred UK queens and nucleus colonies
- Expert-led courses for beginners to advanced beekeepers
- Pure, Devon-produced honey
- Ethical, sustainable, and environmentally responsible practices
- Nationwide delivery across the UK
- Trusted by hobbyists and commercial beekeepers
“Our nucleus colonies are ready for transfer and overwintered for spring growth.”
Get in Touch
Whether you’re just starting out or an experienced beekeeper, Bishops Bees is here to help you cultivate thriving hives and enjoy the rewards of beekeeping.
“Join hundreds of beekeepers who trust Bishops Bees. Explore our queens, nucs, courses, and honey today.”
Our Philosophy
Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. By breeding queens locally and nurturing colonies in the UK climate, we reduce environmental impact and disease risk while maintaining strong, healthy bee populations. We are committed to supporting the beekeeping community and sharing knowledge with hobbyists and commercial beekeepers alike.
