Farmers in Suffolk grow hemp for construction industry

The Contemporary Hempery based at Wakelyns farm near Fressingfield, has been growing hemp for fine fabrics but is now exploring the potential to supply the construction industry.

It has teamed up with Chloe Donovan, founder of Natural Building Systems which creates modular buildings using timber and hemp.

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Chloe Donovan, founder of Natural Building Systems near Halesworth (Image: Natural Building Systems)

Although the company is based outside Halesworth, much of its material is currently imported from France due to limited UK supply.

Chloe - whose family were tenant farmers near Beccles - founded her business aged 25 - along with a hemp scientist, a developer and an architect.

The firm now it employs 15 people and has recently moved to a manufacturing facility outside Halesworth.

Her firm designs and makes modular buildings from timber and hemp – but has to import much of its material from France because so little is grown in the UK.

Claire O'Sullivan at work on the scutcher, which gets rid of the excess shiv and separates the fibre of the hemp. (Image: Denise Bradley)

The Contemporary Hempery - founded by Claire O’Sullivan and Kitty Wilson-Brown - is hoping to revive Suffolk's historic connection with hemp which is a major part of farming history in the county.

Claire O’Sullivan, co-founder of The Contemporary Hempery, said: "We’re making beautiful heritage fabric, and others can grow hemp successfully for oil.

"But it can also be grown for fibre which can be used as building materials such as insulation, and ‘hempcrete’ which is made from the leftover ‘shiv’ or hurd of the plant, and there are people building processing facilities for that now.

Claire O'Sullivan, right, and Kitty Wilson Brown, at the retting pit where the hemp is soaked, at Wakelyns Farm at Fressingfield. (Image: Denise Bradley)

"If we could become part of that, it would be wonderful."

Hemp offers environmental advantages over conventional crops, requiring no irrigation during hot spells and growing without pesticides, herbicides, or fertiliser.

This season’s bumper crop is nearing heights of 2.5 metres and is growing at a rate of 3cm per day.

The combed hemp fibres. (Image: Denise Bradley)

Ms Donovan, now a director at The Contemporary Hempery, said: "I really want to give farmers in this area a reason to grow hemp instead of crops like maize."

Expanding UK-grown hemp could help address both housing and sustainability goals, she added.

"As a millennial I also have an acute awareness of the housing shortage and the fact all my friends are in shared houses.

The hemp fibres are combed. (Image: Denise Bradley)

"I’m also very passionate about the farming aspect of what Kitty and Claire are doing.

"And obviously with the lovely rich history of Suffolk hemp growing it’s a no-brainer to try and get farmers growing it back here again.

"We’d love to see more people growing and processing it in Suffolk."

Textile made from dyed woven hemp fibres and British wool blend. (Image: Denise Bradley)

The Contemporary Hempery is inviting the public to take part in its annual harvest retreat at Wakelyns on August 21-23.

Visitors will help with the harvest and learn traditional techniques such as spinning and dyeing.

The event also includes communal dining, live music, and an outdoor cinema.

Natural Building Systems hopes to transform the building industry using low embodied-carbon materials combined with modern construction methods.

The hemp plant at Wakelyns Farm at Fressingfield. (Image: Denise Bradley)

Volunteer Bee Gardiner strips some of the leaves off as the hemp is harvested at Wakelyns Farm at Fressingfield during last year's bumper harvest (Image: Denise Bradley)

Volunteers strip some of the leaves off as the hemp is harvested at Wakelyns Farm at Fressingfield during last year's bumper harvest (Image: Denise Bradley)