What Apricot Centre does

Apricot Centre CIC is a UK Community Interest Company (non-profit social enterprise) founded in 2006, operating a hybrid model that integrates biodynamic and regenerative farming, accredited land-based education, and nature-based wellbeing therapies. Its primary operational site is Huxhams Cross Farm, a 35-acre mixed biodynamic farm in Dartington, South Devon, held under long-term lease with land owned by the Biodynamic Land Trust (which has 150 community investors); the original 4-acre Manningtree, Essex site continues to operate as Peach and Pippin. Core production uses biodynamic preparations, agroforestry, permaculture design, cover cropping, and mob grazing, with carbon sequestration monitored through the Farm Carbon Toolkit.

The organisation generates revenue and impact across five streams: (1) retail produce sales via an on-site farm shop, the ooooby e-commerce platform, and a weekly vegetable box delivery across South Devon by electric van, plus wholesale to local restaurants and retailers; (2) free school visits and food education programmes funded by the Countryside Stewardship Grant; (3) nature-based wellbeing services for children, families, schools, and asylum seekers, including ecopsychology, sensory integration, attunement work, and non-contact boxing, delivered under a proprietary Metaskills approach; (4) the UK's first free accredited Level 3 Regenerative Land Based Studies training programme, funded by VIVObarefoot Livebarefoot Fund and Devon Environment Foundation, with 20+ Devon placement host farms; and (5) regenerative farming consultancy for land-based businesses. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the farm shop, ooooby storefront, weekly electric-van delivery across South Devon (Totnes, Kingsbridge, Dartmouth, Ashburton, Buckfastleigh, South Brent, Ivybridge), the DART Farmers' Market in Totnes, and on-site at Huxhams Cross Farm. Pricing for produce is published (e.g., Apple Juice 750ml x2 at £7.95 each); school visits and accredited training are free to users; wellbeing service and consultancy pricing are not publicly disclosed. The company operates a hybrid segment strategy spanning geography (South Devon locals), use cases (education, therapy, training), and personas (aspiring farmers, land-based businesses), with no paid advertising — growth relies on organic social, community events, email, and earned media (Country Life, Permaculture Magazine, Wicked Leeks).

Name

Apricot Centre

Legal name

Apricot Centre CIC

Website

https://apricotcentre.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Apricot Centre CIC is a UK non-profit social enterprise operating a 35-acre biodynamic farm in South Devon that delivers regenerative farming, free accredited land-based education, and nature-based wellbeing therapies to local consumers, schools, families, and aspiring regenerative farmers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regenerative Agriculture and Land-based Education

NAICS

Vegetable and Melon Farming (11121), Other Vegetable (except Potato) and Melon Farming (111219), Nursery, Garden Center, and Farm Supply Retailers (444240)

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100), Agricultural Services (700), Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

Organic Vegetable & Melon Farming (Open-Field) (AFAGAKAC)

Keywords

• Regenerative agriculture training
• Biodynamic farm produce
• Nature-based wellbeing therapies
• Organic produce subscription
• Land-based education programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Darlington

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Farm Produce Sales (Retail): Fresh organic/biodynamic fruit, vegetables, meat, eggs, flowers plus essentials (bread, milk, cheese) sold via farm shop and online store. Weekly box delivery across South Devon by electric van.
2. Farm Produce Sales (Wholesale): Wholesale produce supply to local businesses, restaurants, and retailers.
3. Education and School Services: Free farm visits for schools (funded by Countryside Stewardship Grant), short courses, permaculture workshops, and school services for children and families.
4. Wellbeing Services: Nature-based therapies and assessments for children, families, schools, and asylum seekers, including counselling, attunement work, non-contact boxing, and ecopsychology sessions.
5. Regenerative Farming Consultancy: Consultancy services for land-based businesses and organisations seeking to adopt regenerative, biodynamic, or permaculture farming systems.
6. Free Accredited Training Programmes: UK's first free accredited regenerative farming programmes including Level 3 Regenerative Land Based Studies, with funding from VIVObarefoot Livebarefoot Fund, DEF, and others. Includes placement host farms.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Apricot Centre is a Community Interest Company that operates a 35-acre biodynamic farm at Huxhams Cross in Dartington, South Devon, producing and selling organic fruit, vegetables, meat, eggs, and flowers through a farm shop, weekly produce box delivery, and wholesale supply. It also delivers the UK's first free accredited Level 3 Regenerative Land Based Studies training course via the School of Regenerative Land Based Studies, and provides nature-based wellbeing therapies, assessments, and school services for children, families, and asylum seekers using a proprietary Metaskills approach.

Product overview

The Apricot Centre operates as a sustainable farm, learning centre, and wellbeing space rooted in nature at Huxhams Cross Farm in Dartington, South Devon. The core offering is biodynamic and regenerative food production from Huxhams Cross Farm, supplemented by a produce box delivery service and farm shop. Education services include the School of Regenerative Land Based Studies with accredited Level 3 training in regenerative agriculture. Wellbeing services provide nature-based therapies and farm school programs for children and families. The company also offers consultancy services for land-based businesses transitioning to regenerative systems. The farm is a Community Interest Company (CIC) with the land held by the Biodynamic Land Trust.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• School of Regenerative Land Based Studies: Year-long accredited Level 3 training course in Regenerative Land Based Studies including Permaculture, Agroforestry, Biodynamic farming, and other land-based skills.
• Apricot Centre Wellbeing Service
• BDLT (Biodynamic Land Trust) Farm

Products and services

• Huxhams Cross Farm Produce (Farm Shop and Weekly Box Delivery) Fresh organic and biodynamic fruit, vegetables, meat, eggs, and flowers grown at Huxhams Cross Farm, plus essentials like bread, milk, and cheese. Sold via the on-site farm shop, e-commerce store on the ooooby platform, weekly vegetable box subscription delivered by electric van across South Devon, and wholesale to local restaurants and retailers.
• School of Regenerative Land Based Studies (Level 3 Training) Year-long accredited Level 3 training course in regenerative land-based studies, free to trainees aged 19+ and including a training allowance, food box, and placement on a network of 20+ Devon host farms. Curriculum covers agroecology, agroforestry, livestock and woodland management, permaculture, biodynamics, water management, ethnobotany, and ecopsychology.
• Nature-Based Wellbeing Therapies and Assessments Therapy sessions, ecopsychology, sensory integration, attunement work, non-contact boxing, SENSE cooking workshops, and walk-and-talk therapy for children, families, schools, and asylum seekers, delivered using the proprietary Metaskills approach.
• School Services and Farm Visits Free farm visits for schools covering vegetable identification, herb tasting, food miles, pollinators, growing for biodiversity, harvest activities, and cooking workshops. Funded by the Countryside Stewardship Grant.
• Regenerative Farming Consultancy Consultancy, design, and planning services for land-based businesses and farmers seeking to transition to regenerative, biodynamic, or permaculture systems, including carbon sequestration planning and farm business design.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5 years of carbon sequestration, biodiversity, crop yield, and economic data collected using Farm Carbon Toolkit and Farm Carbon Calculator
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Biodynamic Land TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Biodynamic Land Trust owns the land at Huxhams Cross Farm under a long-term lease arrangement with the Apricot Centre. The BDLT has 150 community investors in the farm land, reflecting a community ownership model. The farm is part of the Dartington Hall Trust learning campus. The BDLT and Permaculture Association commissioned the Apricot Centre to carry out research on the effectiveness of Biodynamic and Permaculture systems.
• Permaculture AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Permaculture Association collaborated with the Biodynamic Land Trust to commission the Apricot Centre to conduct research on the effectiveness of Biodynamic and Permaculture systems. The Association also provided curriculum support for the School of Regenerative Land Based Studies.
• CAWR Coventry UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoventry University's Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience (CAWR) partnered with the Apricot Centre to research the social impact of the farm's food production on the local community, as part of the 5-year DEF-funded research programme.
• Crossfields InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCrossfields Institute provided guidance and accreditation support for the School of Regenerative Land Based Studies Level 3 programme, helping get the course formally accredited.
• Flow PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlow Partnership provided curriculum support for the School of Regenerative Land Based Studies alongside Permaculture Association and Biodynamic Agricultural Association.
• Biodynamic Agricultural AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided curriculum support for the School of Regenerative Land Based Studies. The Apricot Centre is a certified Biodynamic (Demeter) farm registered with the Soil Association.
• Chefs in SchoolsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChefs in Schools is a charity transforming school lunches and food education. They partnered with The Grove Primary School in Totnes, whose visits to the Apricot Centre farm are part of this programme, with Apricot Centre providing hands-on food growing and cooking experiences.
• Diversity Business Incubator (DBI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDBI partnered with the Apricot Centre on the Vertical Growbags project in Plymouth, co-designing welcoming permaculture spaces with asylum seekers, refugees, and the wider community at the DBI HQ building.
• Farm Placement Host Network (20+ farms)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of 20+ Devon farms hosting trainees from the School of Regenerative Land Based Studies for authentic land-based experiences. Partner farms include Higher Hacknell Farm, Shillingford Organics, Baddaford Farm, Challonscombe Farm, Challacombe Farm, Dart Valley Funghi, Wave Farm, Home Farm, Bridgeside Blooms, Woodland Presents, and others.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Soil Association: UK's main organic certification body (Apricot Centre is Soil Association certified) and a wider advocate/funding intermediary. Overlaps on education (organic farming courses) and certification rather than direct commercial activity.
• Dartington Hall Trust: Larger charitable estate and learning campus of which Huxhams Cross Farm is a part. Operates broader food, education, and arts programmes; provides Apricot Centre's institutional home and a strategic partnership counterparty rather than direct competition.

Direct peers

• Daylesford Organic: Multi-revenue organic farm business combining farm shop, box delivery, café, cookery school and wellbeing retreat. Closest large-scale comparable to Apricot Centre's integrated farm + education + wellbeing model.
• Higher Hacknell Farm: Devon organic farm with on-site butchery and national meat/vegetable box delivery. Also a host farm in Apricot Centre's placement network; comparable organic, biodiverse, small-scale farm with DTC commerce.
• Riverford Organic Farmers: UK's largest organic vegetable box delivery scheme, founded in Devon. Directly comparable organic/DTC box model and South-West footprint, though at vastly larger scale than Apricot Centre.
• Shillingford Organics: Devon-based organic farm producing vegetables, salads, and eggs for box delivery and farm shop. Host farm for Apricot Centre's School of Regenerative Land Based Studies and operates a near-identical produce-plus-community model in the same region.

Emerging players

• Cotswold Market Garden: Small-scale organic/no-dig market garden in the Cotswolds supplying veg boxes and restaurants. Comparable micro-scale regenerative horticulture model in a different UK region, illustrating the broader movement Apricot Centre is part of.

Others

• Landworkers Alliance: UK grassroots union for small-scale and regenerative farmers and landworkers. Represents the constituency Apricot Centre trains and supports, and a likely partner for policy/grant work, but not a commercial peer.
• Permaculture Association: UK membership body for permaculture design that co-commissioned Apricot Centre's research and supported curriculum design. Overlaps in education and methodology, but functions as an enabling ecosystem partner rather than a competitor.
• Biodynamic Land Trust: Community land trust that owns Huxhams Cross Farm's land and Apricot Centre's 150 community investors. Not a competitor; a capital and land-ownership partner whose model Apricot Centre helps demonstrate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/huxhamscrossfrm
• Facebookfacebook.com/theapricotcentre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/apricot-centre-cic/?originalSubdomain=uk
• Instagraminstagram.com/apricotcentre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Apricot Centre