Paul Richards’ love of plants began in early childhood when walking the lanes and fields of the wild Welsh border country around Knighton with his father, and was further inspired by his uncle who was a keen recorder of native plants.

He went on to study Botany at university in Bristol, then spent three years researching Plant Physiology in Aberdeen and a further year at the Institute of Plant Physiology in Moscow.  His time in Russia, where they maintain a very strong tradition of herbal healing, deepened his fascination with the herbal uses of native plants and strengthened his existing interest in the herbal traditions of his native Wales.

Comfrey was one of the first herbs Paul grew commercially on his farm at Eardisley Herefordshire.  The leaves were dried for Comfrey Tea and the roots to make a powder for animals suffering from arthritis.  Both leaf and root were used to make Comfrey Oil and Ointment.  Paul also supplied many thousands of plants to gardeners both directly and through Garden Organic.

Paul went on to develop a range of healing ointments using combinations of herbal oils made on the farm, notably Calendula, Chickweed,  Marshmallow and Hypericum.   Ethnobotanist James Wong filmed the making of the blood red oil of Hypericum (St John’s Wort) on the farm for the second series of Grow your own Drugs on BBC2.
Customer feedback and the continuing success of the ointments highlighted the skin benefits of these and other herbs grown on the farm, inspiring the creation of  the herbfarmacy range for everyday skincare.  The products harness moisturising, anti-inflammatory and replenishing properties of key herbs to nurture and protect the skin.  The original range was developed over one year of trials and research by Paul, his wife Carol and the herbfarmacy team.

When Paul started growing and drying, he sold many different medicinal herbs to herbalist Hein Zeylstra who strongly encouraged him to explore growing Echinacea purpurea. Back in the 1980s, this herb was popular in Europe but little known in this country. The popularity of Echinacea exploded in 1990s and production on the farm increased to a peak when over 3.5 tonnes were grown for tincturing, supplying several brands. One of these was Postlethwaite’s, a brand subsequently acquired from founder and herbalist James Postlethwaite.  Paul has increased the Postlethwaite’s range  to over 20 tinctures made from fresh herbs grown on the farm. (see Paul’s unabridged biography for details of the legislative issues now affecting the sale of herbal remedies.)

Meanwhile, the herbfarmacy organic skincare range has blossomed and includes several award winning products and in 2010 Carol and Paul opened their herbfarmacy shop in Hay-on-Wye.  It seems fitting that the business has come back to the Welsh side of the border where Paul’s interest in herbs was born.

In April 2011, herbfarmacy had two products selected in a shortlist of just four for the Best Organic Facial Skincare Award at Natural Products Europe.  JUST EYES, a fragrance-free eye cream, won the award, and the other shortlisted product was a 100ml Spritzer version of herbfarmacy ROSE & ECHINACEA TONER.

Paul Richards Full Biography