This paper is one of a number that came from EC and UK projects related to the production and processing of bast fibres, particularly flax & hemp. While most of the outcomes were related to near-market applications the underlying principles were investigated using methods established in the TEAM Research Group. This paper illustrates one such fundamental study in which the ‘retting’ process was related to the properties of the force required to ‘peel’ standard strips of fibre-rich cuticular sections from hemp straw. This led to improved understanding of the retting process and thereby mechanical decortication methods.