What does Five Bees Farm produce?

Five Bees Farm is establishing a regenerative agroforestry system to grow premium medicinal and culinary herbs on 17 acres in North Devon. We supply wholesale botanical ingredients to UK herbal supplement and nutraceutical manufacturers.

When will Five Bees Farm be operational?

Farm operations begin in 2026. First product availability is planned for 2027. We are currently in the establishment phase, developing our agroforestry system and infrastructure.

Is Five Bees Farm certified organic?

We are targeting Soil Association organic certification, with full conversion expected by 2028. We follow organic and regenerative principles from the outset, with zero synthetic inputs.

Where is Five Bees Farm located?

Five Bees Farm is located near Bideford in North Devon, England. Our postcode is EX39 5QZ.

What makes Five Bees Farm different from other herb suppliers?

We are one of very few farms in the UK establishing a dedicated agroforestry system for herbal production. This means our herbs grow in a biodiverse, tree-integrated environment without synthetic inputs. We offer full traceability from seed to shipment, a Soil Association organic certification pathway, and a genuinely regenerative supply chain — reducing UK manufacturers' dependence on imported botanicals.

UK-Grown Dried Nettle Leaf (Urtica dioica)

We supply dried nettle leaf wholesale to UK trade buyers. Our nettle is cultivated in managed beds within a regenerative agroforestry system.

Nettle at a glance

Common name: stinging nettle, common nettle
Latin name: Urtica dioica (family Urticaceae)
Part supplied: leaf
Grown at: Five Bees Farm, near Woolsery, North Devon
Harvest: spring to early summer, with repeat cuts through the season
Planned formats: whole leaf, cut & sifted
Organic status: working towards Soil Association certification (target 2028)

How we grow nettle

Nettle is a vigorous native perennial that thrives in rich, moist soil, which suits North Devon’s heavy, damp ground. We grow it in dedicated no-dig beds between our tree rows. That keeps its spreading roots contained and the crop clean and separate from field-margin nettles. Beds are mulched with compost and woodchip from our own coppiced willow, with zero synthetic inputs.

Harvest and handling

We cut nettle before it flowers, while growth is young and leafy, then let the beds regrow for further cuts. Harvests are made in dry weather once the dew has lifted. Cut material goes to the drying barn quickly to protect its colour.

Drying and processing

Nettle is dried in our on-farm drying barn at low, controlled temperatures. Stems can be separated from leaf for buyers who need leaf-only material. Dried leaf is stored in sealed, food-grade packaging away from light.

Formats for trade buyers

Whole dried nettle leaf
Cut & sifted nettle leaf (planned)
Nettle leaf powder (planned)

Who buys our nettle leaf

UK-grown dried nettle leaf suits herbal tea blenders, pet and equine supplement makers, nutraceutical manufacturers, natural skincare and haircare makers, herbalists and tincture makers, and herb wholesalers who want British-grown material with a known origin.

Provenance and traceability

Every batch of Five Bees nettle leaf is grown, cut and dried on one farm in North Devon. Each batch code links to the bed, harvest date and drying record, with no intermediaries between the field and your order.

Nettle leaf FAQs

Is your nettle wild-harvested or cultivated?

Cultivated. Our nettle grows in managed beds on our farm, which gives us control over cleanliness, harvest timing and traceability.

When will nettle leaf be available?

First harvests for trade buyers are planned for 2028. Register your interest now and we’ll keep you updated.

Can you supply nettle root or seed?

Our main crop is nettle leaf. Please ask if you need root or seed and we’ll let you know what we can offer.

Request a nettle leaf sample

Email hello@fivebeesfarm.co.uk to register interest in UK-grown dried nettle leaf or to discuss future volumes.