Interview with Ursula Billington for Arc2020

“The only person that can make a difference is the farmer. The person who makes the decisions about what happens on the land is the only person that can save this planet.”

In Somerset, a large rural county in England’s South West, ¾ of the land is taken up by farming. The spacious wetland Levels that offset the county’s undulating hills are close to sea level and often submerged below water where historically – pre-Roman drainage - the area was awash and inhabitants boated between hill communities. In this rainy region, intensive agriculture practices leave soil irreparably compacted causing flooding, sediment run-off and pollution.

Across the 75% farms comprising grasslands, however, a renaissance is quietly brewing. Reinvigorated traditional agricultural practices focus on the long-term sustainability of the land. Jen Hunter and Andy Wear of Fernhill Farm are leading the charge with their ecologically-sound farm business comprising livestock, wool shop, education and events venue – all with nature at front and centre.

“Nature isn’t tidy. It has as much right to roam as everything else on this planet”

Fernhill are pioneers of sustainable agroecology. Andy found the derelict 160-acre farm in 1997 and set about transforming the site. Buildings were renovated with reclaimed materials and insulated with Fernhill fleece; heating is homegrown logs and solar; waste water is naturally purified and recycled with willow. 6000 sheep and 40 cattle now roam the fields, and pigs inhabit the woodland. 20,000 visitors attend open days, wool workshops, festivals and weddings each year. It’s a breath-taking, all-encompassing sustainability operation that clearly required visionary thinking and a dedication to the land.

For Jen, intimacy with the natural surroundings is absolutely key to their work. “That’s the only way you learn,” she says; “Just being on your land and looking at it.”

This is why the pair decided, in 2017, to retrain in Holistic Management and Regenerative Agriculture with the Savory Institute: the organisation feeds vital data back to inform their land and animal management. Discovering Savory was a ‘coming home’ moment: “When we suddenly came across holistic management we thought ‘We’re already doing that! It’s not just extensive farming anymore – it’s now got a name!’”

The Institute’s Ecological Verified Outcome (EVO) scheme collects data annually for 5 years to measure land health benefits; increasing presence of plant species, invertebrates and soil health qualities, for example, provide concrete evidence of regeneration which allows them to join the Institute’s Land to Market platform, the ‘world’s first outcome-based sourcing solution (connecting) conscientious brands, retailers and consumers directly to supply derived from land verified to be regenerating.’

Fernhill have already received empirical confirmation that environmental health is increasing on-farm. Government botanists tasked with official biodiversity reporting found the farm is gaining species: 130 were observed per 1 km² where typically a conventional farm reports 50-60 and an arable farm only around 10 species. Jen nods to their no-till approach: “As soon as you drop the plough you kill the soil food web and everything else disappears.

Grass is always moist, and soil underneath a dense layer of sward is the right temperature. A ploughed field is dry and dusty, it’s the wrong temperature and it leaches carbon. Without plants there’s no photosynthesis, so no sequestration.”

“Our Regenerative Agriculture systems mimic what large herbivores have always done. The electric fence we put round them is the wolf that keeps them all in one space.”

Allan Savory, the Institute’s founder, modelled his whole-system approach on the predator/prey relationships with which grasslands co-evolved. Mobs of animals are given a small strip of grass to consume over a short period before being moved on to a fresh patch. Sheep are moved every 3-4 days while cows – Fernhill’s “big girls” – require a fresh area every day. The animals eat or squash down the grass; every blade left behind will photosynthesise, plants retain energy for long root growth which combats erosion, and carbon remains in the ground.

The relationship between grasslands and herbivores is an ancient and mutually-beneficial one, says Jen: “Animals leave behind nutrients, their poo, wee and saliva interacts with the grass, microbes drip off their coat when it rains. The system needs saliva, dead skin, sweat, and all these lovely nutrients - our soil’s have always had that here.

The key is how long the animals interact with a piece of land. Extending Counting the non-grazing days allows plants to recover and mature.”

Andy is a lifelong shepherd and natural philosopher who had an organic ethos from the outset: “I’ve never applied any fertiliser - it grows too lush a grass. Animals like a variety of feeds and often eat the hedge first before touching anything in the field because there’s diversity and medicinal plants there.” He suggests regenerative farmers should receive a benefit for the ecosystem services their animals provide - “If I put my stock on an intensive arable unit they will be excreting good biome on to it. I think I should get a payment for that” - referring to nomadic pastoralists, historically paid to bring animals on to depleted land to graze, trample and leave behind nutritious dung. Farming technologists at a recent conference met his idea with astonishment as this was aligned to a new research project of theirs.

The suggestion ties neatly into the English government’s proposals for a new Environmental Land Management scheme (ELMs) as the backbone of post-CAP agricultural policy following EU-exit. ‘Public payment for public goods’ would see subsidies given for on-farm environmental improvements. However, the scheme lacked detail and is now in danger of being eroded; and recent rejection by MPs of nature, climate change and food standards protections - called “the biggest betrayal to British farming since the civil war” - suggests the environment may take a backseat in new policy after all. U-turns have been made before though!

In the face of ongoing uncertainty regarding the future for British farmers, it’s unsurprising that Jen and Andy are sceptical about Westminster’s discourse around agriculture: “We try to be aware of it, but not let it dictate to us. We’re probably a little bit rebellious, a little anarchistic when it comes to being told….”

They remain ardently uncompromising in their farming principles, suggesting the only way to make an environmental difference is to patronise Regenerative systems. The supply chain certainly has a significant role to play. Footwear brand Timberland has committed to using leather from regenerative farms and is co-funding the Savory Institute EOV scheme. Wrangler recently commited to sustainable cotton sourcing by 2025 and sponsors farmer workshops in soil health. Sustain, the UK’s foremost campaigners for sustainable food and farming, emphasise the need to support local and British food producers for better animal welfare, land stewardship and climate action, where policy support is lacking.

Jen is looking to expand her responsible consumer base for Fernhill wool products. The flock is blade-shorn by Andy to ensure the best possible wellbeing for the sheep by being able to leave more wool on the sheep, and the essential lanolin layer left intact offers greater protection for the impacts of cold weather where machine-shearing crops the fleece to such an extent the animal suffers the impacts of cold weather, thunderstorms or intense sunshine.

Andy is an award-winning shearer and has his moccasins on, sheep splayed and fleece off in under 4 minutes. It’s beautiful to watch. Jen is an expert wool handler, sorting the fleece into grades for different purposes. Bulk orders for yarns, insulation and felt come from the commercial Romney X Shetland flock; the speciality and handcraft market is supplied with lustre long wool fibres from Teeswater and Leicester types. A Nuffield scholar of global wool industry trends in 2014, Jen is researching inter-breeding for multi-functionality – “looking at the genetics to create a multi-purpose breed so there’s some more income from wool. Traditionally in this country 90% of the income in sheep is from meat.” She hopes to reposition wool as a primary product in the UK, rather than a by-product of the meat industry.

For Jen “a main driver is passing on a skill.” She is hoping to establish seeking funding for a Wool School pilot project, providing 6-week internships covering blade shearing, wool handling, washing, carding and spinning, and crafts such as dyeing and needle felting. “An whole introduction to wool – practical workshops showing what we can do with natural fibres to add value at farm level without the need for chemical interventions.”

The local wool ecology is picking up with recent funding of the South West England branch of Fibershed, a worldwide initiative born in California in 2010 that has energised interest in the soil-to-soil textile movement. It aims to rejuvenate regional fibre systems to combat a destructive global system that pollutes environments and contributes heavily to climate change. Fernhill supplies fleece to the Bristol Cloth which is sent off for spinning, travels back to Bristol for natural over-dyeing, then over the road across the city to the Weaving Mill to be woven finished; it’s a tiny operation at fledgling stage. Jen puts the realities of the global textile system into context to suggest the local Fibershed should encompass the whole country, rather than splitting into regional branches:

“We’re so small compared to California. There’s currently only one option to wash and spin wool in the South West so we’re limited as to what we can do here. The Bristol Cloth fleeces are sent up to Yorkshire for spinning – which is absolutely no distance at all when considering the majority of wool growing countries Australia and New Zealand have little if any wool processing plants so everything goes back and forth to China and back again. The distance between South and North of England is nothing compared to the average footstep of an average (wool or synthetic) garment.”

Sustainable fashion and fibres certainly seem to be on the rise, while a pandemic-induced resurgence of handicrafts and homegrown lifestyles suggest the time is ripe for Jen’s Products with Provenance. Fernhill’s own brand of holistic education will continue to enlighten and inspire with the beauty and abundance of their alternative. The rebels see a rising interest in Regenerative Agriculture and are hoping to emerge ahead of the curve:

“I remember we were once thought of as too traditional with our extensive nomadic ways, now its seen as revolutionary and we’ve done nothing different for years. Hardly anything has changed except maybe our understanding of what our regenerative journey feels like !   the world is catching up…”

 https://www.arc2020.eu/uk-old-and-new-somersets-regenerative-renaissance/

The Line-Up: Don't miss a thing at this weekend's Farm Open Day

This Saturday we host the long awaited Fernhill Farm Open Day & Blade Shearing Tournament from 10am - 5pm. World Class Blade shearers will be taking part in this bi-annual tournament to compete with plenty of the best this industry has to offer and help raise the profile of the Benefits of Blade Shearing here in the UK.

Buy fleece fresh off the boards in the shearing shed, as well as finished products made from our wool in our pop-up Sheep Shop - beautiful scarves, blankets, yarn, clothing and more in a range of natural and dyed colours.

Throughout the day wool spinning, peg loom weaving and needle felt workshops will be available from the Fernhill Fibre team, and we welcome all those who use natural resources to promote and create rural activities. We will also be screening films that cover conservation, regenerative agriculture and sustainable textile production.

To keep all of this information neat and ensuring you don’t miss any of the talks, walks, demonstrations or pop-up shops, we’ve created this handy guide to keep you on track throughout the day.

At 1pm we stop for lunch, where Stompin’ Dave will be performing music in the Shearing Shed and food from One Love Caribbean Shack will be available. We’ll have cider from Worley’s served throughout the day and coffee, tea and cakes available from the Coffee Box too.

Read more in our latest newsletter.

Fernhill Fibre WOOL SCHOOL

We trailed this idea as a pilot project with the 3 interns here during covid and now we are ready to offer it to students and textile learners etc too. You can read about their experiences here

Harriet’s Experience 

Ellie’s Experience

The Fernhill Fibre Farm WOOL SHOOL

Aims and Objectives: Understand the basics with selecting, prepping, washing raw fleece ready for a multitude of craft activities that include spinning, wet felting, needle felting etc Yarns can then be knitted or woven Topics covered include sheep breed qualities, what is kemp, microns and fibre diameter, native colours, fibre length, fibre strength, fibre weaknesses, sheep fleece parts, using seconds and waste wool.Progressing into ways of washing wool, drying fleece, lanolin removal, lanolin rich fleece, picking, carding, making rolags, spinning rolags, yarn onto bobbins, plying, hanks, storage etc

Ways of wet felting, using part felted fleeces to make rugs and needle felting 2D pictures and 3D shapes Possibilities to progress into natural and acid dyes

The course will also include a Giant French Knit workshop making snoods and peg loom rug weaving if requested

There will also be an opportunity to Blade shear a sheep

Start and End dates: 6th–28th October 2021 and March / April 2022 TBC

Day(s) of the week: Every Wednesday in October 2021

Times and locations: Fernhill Farm 10-4pm in the Saloon –ground floor workshop space with ample parking, kitchen-diner and lots of space for workshop activities

Price / day:£50pp/day (or £12/hour if participants can only make certain times)Includes room hire, hot drinks and tuition withactivities –please BYO lunch

No previous skills required –welcome to bring own materials, wheels, spindles etc if you wish –dress warm for a farm with sensible shoes

Maximum number we can accept / day: 6-9/day –spaces are limited and booked on a first come first served basis –can book all days as a package or just one day, a few hours etc

To book or for further information please email jen@fernhill-farm.co.uk

Ellie's WOOL SCHOOL Experience At Fernhill Farm

Fernhill Farm Experience - Ellie Green

The beginning of my Fernhill Fibre experience started with watching the blade shearers work their magic for a rewarding shearing season on the farm, bringing with it no shortage of fine fleeces at the first part of a textile journey, for both me and the fleece. 

As three textile students interning on the farm, it was a hands-on approach to learning. Wool handling brought the responsibility of grading and sorting the fleece and introduced us to the world of wool – and there was plenty of wool! Bags were filled and piled high. Sheep after sheep, fleeces were thrown, skirt was collected, short was removed and its strength tested.

Following our careful consideration and endless decision making, it was only the very best of the flock that was selected and separated for customer picking – bringing with it great textile opportunity.  Felting, hand spinning and other crafts; the options were vast and with a generous supply of fleece building, the listings began. With instruction from Jen, we gained an insight into the behind the scenes of the business and website. Sharing roles between the three of us, we could take turns to weigh, record and upload the fleece, noting the staple length and one final check of its condition. Slowly we made our way through what we had set aside during the busy shearing season and opened the shop doors (virtually) for customers to delve into. 

From one fleece to 10kg worth, to balls of yarn and cones, a whole spectrum of orders made way for lots of packing and stuffing, whilst simultaneously revealing a network of like-minded wool enthusiasts from all over, each with their own preference and own ideas. Whether it was felted, tightly curled, grey, white or brown, saving fleeces with differences allowed individuality to prosper and customers to find exactly what they wanted for their textiles. 

Between readying orders and preparing yarn and other stock for the shop, it was our turn to see from a new perspective, why exactly the Fernhill Fibre is so special. Joining us every week was our personal textiles teachers Leslie, Chris and Lally, bringing with them spinning wheels, felting materials and a whole bible of textiles skills. Courtesy of Jen and their own supply, we were each set up with a wheel and given a demonstration, as Chris coordinated peddling with handling the changing fleece, we watched it twist into yarn, proving much easier than my first attempt! Starting off with peddling alone, it was a slow burn to getting used to the process, but an addictive one. Thanks to all their admirable guidance and patience, the bobbins started to fill, and hanks were created, albeit a little chunkier than the experts, of my very own Fernhill yarn. 

When we weren’t spinning, Leslie Hill was offering valuable education in all things felting. From wet felting a lovely bowl to needle felting a sweet hare, we were lucky enough to have the choice of Fernhill felted fleeces as ours for a day of rug making. 

With the sun beaming down on the Mendips, it was a white Lustre Flock fleece with amazing ringlet-curls that we settled on. Picnic tables turned to temporary felting stations as we set to work, dividing the fleece between us. Ensuring we backed the naturally felted fleece with rovings and plenty of water too. Soapy and soaking, it was ready to be wrapped up and rolled just a few hundred times! Transformed by our concentration (and counting), the rugs were finished and appreciating the perfect drying climate.  The creative session had paid off and another woolly technique fulfilled. 

Amongst the bustle of the farm and work to be done, being surrounded by open space and natural life was never taken for granted. With a routine of watering the polytunnel or beginning the day with feeding calves and pigs, the value in grounding yourself with moments of nature and connection was never lost. Time planting, sowing, feeding, watching and listening in an oasis of biodiversity was not only an ode to the regenerative management of the farm but provided as a constant reminder that the more we take care of our environment the more it takes care of us.

Taking us right back to where we started, Andy Wear encouraged us onto the boards to share shearing expertise and sheep, for a turn at blade shearing. As the sheep sat back and Andy talked us through, we each found our way moving with the sheep and harnessing the fleece. An obvious first attempt on my part, it was purely down to our teacher’s patience and direction that after even just one sheep an understanding had developed and was already progressing. 

Throughout my time at the farm, it was lessons from Jen that provided the main backbone to the experience. Whether it was creating tuffets from peg-loom weaving, stressing the importance of regenerative methods, making snoods with upscaled French knitting, or highlighting use of natural fibres and misinformation about different industries, there was no subject off the table. With one final work trip up to Wales, meeting clients and discussing potential opportunities, there was plenty of time to touch on more territory both geographically and mentally. It was thanks to Jen who allowed us to get involved and give us a unique platform for learning, revealing within all aspects of Fernhill a refreshing outlook and message, and the value of paving your own way – especially when it comes to wool. 

Harriet's WOOL SCHOOL Experience At Fernhill Farm

“I gained a huge amount of knowledge from my time at Fernhill Farm. From shearing and wool handling through to spinning raw fleeces, I gained invaluable experience that I believe has really shaped me as a student. Prior to staring at the farm, I would simply go into the yarn store at my university and select a cone of yarn for its colour, gauge and blend. In my naivety I had never looked beyond this stage failing to question what country the wool comes from, how the sheep are treated and what the overall carbon footprint it. As knitwear students, we are constantly encouraged to assess the sustainability aspects of our practice but without this primary knowledge how can we even start to understand let alone do something about it.......this is where Fernhill Farm comes in. I lived at the farm for two months along with two other interns Ellie and Ellie and we became great friends. As soon as you arrive you get stuck into jobs anywhere from feeding Polly and Twinny (the two beloved calves see below) feeding the pigs or exploring the variety of plants in the polytunnel so you will never feel lonely as there is plenty to do".”

We took part in a pilot project wool school which consists of week rotations exploring the journey from raw material through to spinning and felting. Jen launched this idea so that students can see and take part in the whole process.......it was so much fun!We started with a few weeks of wool handling which was fascinating and I really didn’t know what to expect. We saw the sheep being shorn and shortly after sorted the fleeces ready for them to be separated into bags for hand spinners and felters. I learnt about the importance of the staple length of a wool fibre and how the locks differ between the RomneyxShetland and Lustre flock breeds. This will then determine what the fleeces are best for and which bags they will go into for processing. Nothing is wasted from skirt to dag wool and everything has a purpose. It’s really important to get stuck in! No excuses for being poo shy,as a wool handler you will be doing anything from skirting raw fleeces to picking out sheep poo from the short bits of wool. This whole process is so important if you truly want to understand the raw fibres and how to reduce waste by retaining as much fibre as possible

Every Thursday we had a play day which consisted of nattering away with fellow spinners Christine, Lesley and Brenda (Lally) who have a wealth of knowledge anywhere from spinning, felting and hand knitting. Between plenty of cups of coffee and biscuits we learnt the traditional art of hand spinning, both wet and needle felting techniques.

We spent three weeks creating hanks of yarn, wet felted bowls and needle felted rabbits. All of these skills can be taken forward into my final year giving me lots of inspiration for design ideas and new materials to work with. I even bought my first wheel from Brenda that has enabled me to spin my own yarn ready for my final year collection. Jen and Andy are so welcoming and spending time with the farm animals (including the adorable lambs) and the three dogs Weave, Coco and Fizz made the whole Fernhill Farm experience so great. Don’t be disillusioned however as this is working farm and you need to get stuck in, work hard and not be screemish. The skills I learnt have truly shaped my outlook on farming, textiles and the natural environment forever and I would highly encourage any student to intern here

An Introduction to Natural Dye with Vera Hoenen of The Little Spiral

Vera has been working with fibre for nearly 20 years. A few year ago, her hobby got kicked up a notch when she inherited a flock of heritage breed sheep together with a few friends. She now shares the sheep whilst they graze on a fabulous organic farm. Since then, she has used her craft to introduce other people to this amazing fibre through spinning, weaving, felting or natural dyeing workshops as well as occasionally selling items that she makes on her website.

Vera at Home

Vera will be demonstrating at our Farm Open Day - Blade Shearing Tournament & Fleece Sale on Saturday 18th September.

Choosing to explore the fibre through trial, error, making and experience, Vera took the self-taught approach to dyeing fibres by hand.

“I started playing around with natural dyes some years ago, foolishly relying on some blog posts only to be sorely disappointed with the results. Beetroot is not a dye, nor are so many other kitchen ingredients. I invested in some books, learned the proper way to dye and now much prefer these for my fibres and textiles.” - Vera

Using some good books and her hands, she picked up the skills needed when they are required.

Vera’s Brief Guide To Getting Started With Natural Dyes

All wool needs scouring, scouring is the process of removing lanolin, dirt and anything else that may be on the fibre. Even if it looks clean, some wool for weaving will have "sizing" for instance and this stops dye take up.

“I use Orvus paste, a little goes a very long way! Keep it at around 70c for an hour. Remove it from the pan whilst hot and place it in a sieve to completely drain and cool. Once cool rinse it with water as close to the temperature of the fibre is now. Too much temperature difference or too much agitation and you increase the likelihood of the fibre felting!”

Most dyes require that the fibres are mordanted before hand. For wool, use alum (potassium aluminium sulfate). Dissolve the desired amount in water in a pot and add the wool, warming it to 70c and then put the lid on and leave it over night. In the morning take it out and rinse it gently but thoroughly to ensure no loose alum is left behind.

The dye material goes in another pot, cover it with water and warm it. Boiling isn't necessary and for many dyes it is even detrimental. Vera keeps hers at around 70c for the majority of plants.

“I'm using goldenrod here, it grows abundantly where I live. Many plants will give colour and some are more stable than others so it's worth experimenting. Yellow is by far the easiest colour to achieve.

After an hour turn off the heat, let it cool enough so you are comfortable handling it and strain the plant material out with an old towel or muslin. Rinse the pot to ensure no plant material is left behind and pour the dye liquid back into it.”

Natural dyes for wool have been used for hundreds of years. Harvesting plants and extracting the color from the leaves, berries, and flowers is an enjoyable way to gather colour today, too. You can use herbs and fruits that produce intense dye baths. Many weeds grow along roadways were historically gathered as plant dye sources. Once you start down this path, you will look at every plant in a new way.

“Pineapple weed for some dyeing going on this weekend. I have a skein of handspun ready to go when I get back so I hope I have guessed the weight in my bucket enough to get the saturation I'm hoping for.” - Vera

The first step in creating a natural dye for wool, or whatever you hope to add colour to, is to gather the plant materials. In some cases, this may be the root of the plant. Choose the blossoms before they begin to wilt and dry on the plant. Some common, easy to find dye sources are pokeberry, goldenrod plant, marigold, turmeric root, crushed acorns, and pomegranates.

You can now place your fibre into the pan and encourage it to submerge and soak up all that colour.

Keep it to 70c for at least half and hour and see how much colour has been absorbed, leave it longer if you'd like to try and get a deeper colour.

“Often I will turn off my pot after half an hour and just leave everything till the next day. Remove the fibre and rinse very well, then allow it to dry.”

Vera will be demonstrating at our Farm Open Day - Blade Shearing Tournament & Fleece Sale on Saturday 18th September.

Certified Regenerative by A Greener World 2021

Happy we have some positive news to share as this is us here @ Fernhill Farm - An Arcadian Place to Stay

Working to become Certified Regenerative as we all plan, plot, plod and count the cow pats day in day out, doing what we do best ... livestock on our land, wool fibre harvesting in the shearing shed, producing meat for our plates, all the while leaving more behind than we take away, providing precious life ingredients as we used to know it.

Super exciting to offer certification for our meat and fibres soon - plodding along daily we are delighted to become a pilot farm with @agreenerworldorg for their new label #certifiedregenerativebyagw for both @fernhillfarm1 @fernhillfibre

The science behind our animal management is the ‘weight of hooves in our flock and herd determines the length of time these hooves interacts with land based on its seasonal forage availability and biological demands for breeding’ - feeling this annual hoof interaction we feed life back into land to enable everything else to join in with its rich diversity that is our natural world - to give, we all have to receive and soil needs protection as the skin of the earth, forage acts as it’s protective cloth.

Following the recent announcement of its newest label, Certified Regenerative by A Greener World (AGW), the non-profit farm certifier has selected over 50 farms to join the programme’s pilot phase. Building on AGW’s successful family of leading labels, the new certification will provide a whole-farm assurance of sustainability, measuring benefits for soil, water, air, biodiversity, infrastructure, animal welfare and social responsibility.

Key features of the programme include transparent, rigorous standards; high animal welfare; a holistic, farmer-led approach; early and broad access to regenerative markets; and a pragmatic, science-based approach. The certification also streamlines auditing and certification of a wide range of practices, helping farms to make multiple meaningful claims through a single audit. With one visit farmers can demonstrate grass-fed, non-GMO, humane, just, water-friendly, environmentally sustainable practices—free of routine antibiotics and toxic chemicals.

The core feature of Certified Regenerative by AGW is a five-year Regenerative Plan developed in partnership with the farmer, whereby farmers and experts assess risk, set goals and track progress toward meaningful milestones. Experienced agricultural advisors at the UK’s Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) will also be providing training and support in the development of Regenerative Plans. The role of A Greener World is to assess farms’ compliance with their own plan. Currently most regenerative claims are not verified at all, and the few verified labels are either limited in scope or require Organic certification as a prerequisite, excluding the vast majority of farmland and hardwiring practices which are inherently not regenerative.

Pilot farms were selected based on a variety of factors including agricultural experience, regenerative principles, market or educational impact and geographical diversity. Farms span four continents and over ten species, with products ranging from grass-fed lamb to herbs and vegetables. Pilot farms in Australia, Namibia, South Africa, the UK, Canada and the U.S. will partner with A Greener World over the coming year to evaluate standards, plans and auditing procedures. This allows the programme to be trailed and assessed in a range of environments, climates and socioeconomic parameters to ensure meaningful outcomes are achieved, with refinements made as needed. A Greener World expects to announce its first fully Certified Regenerative by AGW farms and products in 2021.

A Greener World UK/Europe Executive Director Wayne Copp says,

“The term ‘regenerative’ is already being thrown around like ‘sustainable’ was a decade ago, and is being used to ‘greenwash’ products or make them seem more environmentally sustainable than they are. Our new Certified Regenerative by AGW programme seeks to protect farmers and consumers by establishing clear standards and a label that farmers and consumers can trust to deliver a genuinely positive outcome: on the farm, at the table, and for the planet.

The interest in our Certified Regenerative by AGW programme has been overwhelming—and the excellent applications made for a difficult selection process, but we are thrilled with the results. The innovative farms participating in this pilot are helping to deliver a certification that both farmers and consumers can trust to deliver a genuinely positive outcome: on the farm, at the table, and for the planet. We know that truly regenerative farming requires accountability to each other and to all of the communities to which we belong—whether they be plant, animal, human, or the environment we all share. We have been humbled by the groundswell of interest from farmers and eaters alike and look forward to sharing our collective journey.”

The Handloom Room introduces 'Truly Mendip'

Fernhill Farm x Truly Mendip

It’s always such a pleasure to go to Fernhill Farm for a re-stock of wool. There will invariably be a herd of sheep passing by, a couple of dogs jumping up by way of a greeting or, most recently a very thick mist, rendering the scene particularly beautiful in it’s remote stillness. Jen is always a helpful host and it’s lovely to have a catch up in her little store, which is increasingly filled with amazing woollen treasures from felted creatures, to woven jackets and full sheep fleeces!

I’ve been working with Fernhill fibre for a while now and am so happy to have found a truly local and sustainable yarn to weave with. The sheep are regeneratively farmed, which means that they are able to restore the natural biodiversity of the landscape through their continual grazing in nomadic-style flocks.

It’s really important to me (what used to be a dream!) to be able to use natural fibre from less than 10 miles from my home and to turn it into attractive, wearable cloth on my table loom. The wool is harvested annually by expert (and unfortunately now dwindling in this country) hand shearers and is then sustainably processed by UK spinners. Discovering Fernhill fibre has helped me to move in a new and more focussed direction with my weaving, where I am now reducing the amount of chemically dyed yarns that I work with. I have created a new and growing Truly Mendip range which showcases the undyed beauty of Fernhill yarn.

This is the antitheses of fast fashion and it demonstrates a viability in local, soil to soil garment production, along with many other local makers that also work with Fernhill fibre. Customers of The Handloom Room’s pop-up shop have said how pleased they are to be able to wear something that has fully traceable provenance, not only from within the UK, but in their very own county!

Fernhill Farm has recently achieved A Greener World certification, which recognises their high levels of animal welfare, non GMO practices and that their farming benefits the animals, the environment and the planet alike. This can only help further people’s understanding of local wool as the way forward for their wardrobe. The palette of natural shades available is vast, and I am increasingly thinking about creating a naturally dyed yarn range also. I must admit that it will be a struggle to wean myself off of hot pink tweeds but I believe there is a balance to be struck in pursuit of a greater good.

In addition to Ferhnill Farm’s fabulous environmental credentials, the yarn itself is super soft. It weaves beautifully into warm scarves that can be comfortably worn directly next to the skin. The traces of lanolin that remain in the yarn help to soothe and hydrate dry skin – so not only do the locally produced scarves keep you warm but they also keep you moisturised throughout the winter! As you can tell, I am a bit in love with Fernhill fibre!

http://www.thehandloomroom.co.uk/

By Jade Ogden, January 2021

CHOOSE TRULY SUSTAINABLE FIBRE THIS WOOL WEEK

—Certified Animal Welfare Approved, Certified Grassfed by AGW and Certified Non-GMO by AGW wool brings verified sustainability to the industry—

SOMERSET (15 OCTOBER 2020)—Wool products from Certified Animal Welfare Approved by A Greener World (AGW), Certified Grassfed by AGW and Certified Non-GMO by AGW farms benefit the environment, animals and the planet—and are a verified sustainable fibre option to support this Wool Week. 

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, The Campaign for Wool’s annual Wool Week initiative is designed to educate, inspire and promote the wide-ranging benefits of wool. Supported by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and leading celebrities, including David Attenborough, Wool Week brings together a global community of sheep farmers, retailers, designers and manufacturers to educate the public about the benefits and versatility of wool, while supporting many small businesses and local farmers whose livelihoods depend on the wool industry. Wool Week 2020 takes place from 5–18 October 2020. 

Wool is a remarkable natural fibre, offering one of the most effective natural forms of all-weather protection. It is also a renewable material, since every year sheep produce a new fleece. For shoppers seeking to purchase truly planet-friendly fibre this Wool Week and beyond, products with certifications offered by the respected international certifier, A Greener World, bring verified high animal welfare and sustainability to wool’s list of many benefits.

Andy Wear and Jen Hunter of Fernhill Farm in Somerset are passionate about the benefits of wool. Their flock of 6,000 Certified Animal Welfare Approved by AGW, Certified Grassfed by AGW and Certified Non-GMO by AGW Shetland-cross sheep supply fine, colourful wool fibre. The wool is harvested annually by expert hand shearers and used to create a range of natural fibre textiles that are sustainably processed within the UK. The sheep also provide high-quality, delicious lamb and mutton products, available from FarmDrop. Wear and Hunter also raise Certified Animal Welfare Approved by AGW, Certified Grassfed by AGW and Certified Non-GMO by AGW Aberdeen Angus beef cattle, and the beef is available at Waitrose supermarkets. 

With the growing disconnect of consumers from fibre (and food) sources—and increasing demand for meaningful welfare standards—Fernhill Farm found it essential to have third-party validation with A Greener World to demonstrate their exceptional high welfare and environmental practices. 

Jen Hunter of Fernhill Farm says,

“Wool is commonly labelled as by-product from the sheep meat industry. But here at Ferhnill Farm, we’ve always had a very different opinion. Natural wool has a vital role to play in producing sustainable clothing, furnishing and insulation for humans, helping us all to tread more lightly on our struggling planet. The growing public realisation that oil-based synthetics like nylon and polyester are not helping planet Earth provides a key opportunity to reposition wool as a valued, essential and, above all, sustainable natural fibre. I feel the time is right to do this.”

A Greener World UK Executive Director Wayne Copp says,

“We are thrilled to partner with Fernhill Farm in celebrating their farm during Wool Week 2020. Fernhill Farm’s certifications from A Greener World recognise that high standards of animal welfare and environmental management are not only good for farmed livestock and the planet—but that labelling with our seal makes good commercial sense in speaking clearly and directly to consumers seeking wool they can feel good about. What Fernhill Farm has achieved is nothing short of an inspiration for all forward-thinking UK wool producers.”

For more information about Fernhill Farm’s Certified Animal Welfare Approved by AGW, Certified Grassfed by AGW and Certified Non-GMO by AGW wool and fibre products, visit fernhillfibre.co.uk. To find out more about Fernhill Farm’s beef, lamb and mutton products, visit fernhill-farm.co.uk.

A Greener World

SOMERSET (1 OCTOBER 2020)—The herd of beef cattle and flock of sheep at Fernhill Farm are now Certified Animal Welfare Approved by A Greener World (AGW), Certified Grassfed by AGW and Certified Non-GMO by AGW. 

One of a portfolio of leading farm certifications offered by the respected international certifier, A Greener World, the Certified Animal Welfare Approved (AWA) by AGW label verifies that animals are raised outdoors on pasture or range in accordance with world-renowned welfare standards using sustainable agriculture methods on an independent farm. Newly launched in the UK, AWA is part of the suite of "Certified By" seals offered by A Greener World Global, along with Certified Grassfed and Certified Non-GMO. 

Certified Grassfed by AGW and Certified Non-GMO by AGW are optional, additional accreditations for Certified Animal Welfare Approved by AGW farmers. Certified Grassfed by AGW requires a 100 percent grassfed feeding protocol, country of origin labeling, supply chain traceability and independently recognised welfare certification. Certified Non-GMO by AGW guarantees a food product is produced without the use of genetically modified feed, supplements or ingredients and it is the only non-GMO label to require pasture and range for livestock.

A Greener World is globally recognised and rooted locally, driving regional access to values-based markets. Following success in Ireland, South Africa, the United States, Canada and Central America, A Greener World was invited to launch in the UK by local farmers seeking market differentiation through straightforward label claims. Under the leadership of Executive Director Wayne Copp, the newly formed A Greener World Europe and UK operates independently of the other regions. 

Andy Wear and Jen Hunter raise their beef cattle and sheep in a low-stress environment and outdoors on well-managed pastures at Fernhill Farm, situated on the top of the Mendip Hills at the heart of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Somerset. Their farming practices are not only better for the animals, but also for the wider environment. The cattle and sheep are rotationally managed, grazing one area of species-rich pasture before being moved to a fresh paddock. This allows pasture to recover before the animals return to graze again; it also minimises the build-up of internal parasites, thereby avoiding reliance on chemical treatments. 

With the growing disconnect of consumers from the source of their food—and increasing demand for meaningful welfare standards—Fernhill Farm found it essential to have third-party validation demonstrating their exceptional welfare and environmental practices to a market hungry for truthful information about their nutrient-dense delicious meat products.

A Greener World UK Executive Director Wayne Copp says,

"We are thrilled to partner with Fernhill Farm in celebrating their farm, and our growing family of farms in the UK and Europe. It has never been more critical for farmers to be fully understood by consumers, and we are honoured to support this though an uncomplicated, independent and credible certification marque that can be trusted to mean what is says on that label: Grassfed. Animal - Welfare - Approved. Non-GMO.

Fernhill Farm's certifications from A Greener World recognise that high standards of animal welfare and environmental management are not only good for farmed livestock and the planet - but that labelling with our seal makes good commercial sense in speaking clearly and directly to consumers seeking food they can feel good about. What Fernhill Farm has achieved is nothing short of an inspiration for all forward-thinking UK producers."

In addition to high-quality, delicious Certified Animal Welfare Approved by AGW, Certified Grassfed by AGW and Certified Non-GMO by AGW beef, lamb and mutton at Fernhill Farm, the multipurpose flock of sheep also provide quality wool in all the native shades that is harvested annually by expert shearers and used to create a range of natural fibre textiles that are processed within the UK.

Fernhill Farm's Certified Animal Welfare Approved by AGW, Certified Grassfed by AGW and Certified Non-GMO by AGW Aberdeen Angus beef is on contract to Waitrose, and lamb products are available from FarmDrop. Guests visiting the farm can purchase direct through the farm's online store. Visit fernhill-farm.co.uk for more information. To find out more about Fernhill Farm wool and fibre products, visit fernhillfibre.co.uk.

LEADING BLADE SHEARER HIGHLIGHTS WOOL POTENTIAL

With the potential of wool starting to become recognised in the desire for sustainable materials, we speak to blade shearer Andy Wear about his experiences with working with wool and why he is
optimistic about the future.

An interview with Andy Wear for British Wool 2019

A former contract machine shearer, Andy has always admired the craft of blade shearing, a skill still commonly used around the world. He first started machine shearing at the age of 15, and following his graduation from university, went overseas to shear in New Zealand.

Brought up on a sheep farm in the South West, Andy Wear, after seeing a blade shearer at work, knew that this was a skill he wanted to learn, but never imagined the experiences and achievements he would gain from performing one of the most fundamental aspects of sheep management. 

“Looking back, it was seeing Tony Dobbs, [back in the 90’s] at the Royal Show, I remember thinking how he was so skilful. Shortly afterwards, I hosted some South African shearers for a few days, and watched them working with blades. This gave me the basic knowledge as to what it was about and it really inspired me to improve. The South Africans are some of the best blade shearers in the world; fluid, easy and swift. They make a really tidy job of blade shearing.

In 1996, I was asked if I would like to go to Masterton, New Zealand, and shear for England in the World Championship. That was an incredible experience. There were competitors from South Africa, New Zealand and the USA – six in total and I came sixth! In spite of this, this is still my biggest achievement and the one I am most proud off – the South Africans and Kiwis are in a league of their own - so to be placed against them was incredible.

I was offered so much encouragement at the World Championship by the other shearers, it enthused me to go back the following summer to Mackenzie Country in New Zealand and work with a blade shearing gang. That is where I could really learn the skills, working day in day out, with a professional gang.”

Commenting on his first day at work, Andy says: “My first day of shearing was incredibly hard. I only managed to shear 3½ Merinos in the 1st hour – I nearly cried and just wanted to come home. Luckily, I stayed for three months and improved massively. Working alongside others really drives you, and on my best day I shore 82 – that is about 10 per hour.”

Andy then returned to the UK with his love of blade shearing really kindled: “I carried on meeting with a lot of shearers and have since sheared in another three World Championship locations – in Scotland, Masterton-NZ and Ireland.

It’s amazing what an impact blade shearing has been on my life. I have travelled to many countries and get to share my passion with an incredible community of people.”

Andy now has his own farm in the Mendip Hills in Somerset, running 2400 ewes, mostly Romney Cross Shetland, which are all blade shorn. From there, he and his partner Jen, run Blade Shearing Tournaments, training courses and workshops. {Next date 21st March 2020}

“Twice a year, between 20 and 30 competitors come in from across the world - New Zealand, France, Netherlands and the UK – to train and compete. In the autumn, we shear all of the lambs and in the spring, pre-lambing we shear all of the ewes. Everyone comes together to shear, share and improve their skills and we shear about 2000 in total during each tournament.”

Andy has seen a resurgence of blade shearing within our home nations over recent years and has been proactive in encouraging blade shearing here in England:

“I think with any shearing, when you work together, you improve, and the British Blade Shearing standard is rising all the time. Although we used to be a long way from the standard of the teams from South Africa and New Zealand, I am pleased to say we are now pushing them along and I look forward to seeing where we are placed in future competitions. I predict that there will be one or two British who will make the final in the World Championships!”

“This is an industry where there is great enthusiasm of working and shearing together, and although the competitions are of course competitive, many of these events are used for the transfer of knowledge and to improve their skills.”

“The beauty with blade shearing is that it is relatively inexpensive to get started and I would encourage anyone to give it a go. A set of blades costs around £20, and with some basic training, and learning how to keep them sharp, you are ready and prepared.  

Currently we are finding a lot of small-scale and hobby farmers are getting into blade shearing. Often this sector of the sheep industry finds it hard to get a contract machine shearer to suit their timescale, so they learn how to do it by blade themselves. 

Additionally, more and more people are appreciating the benefits of blade shearing. Typically, you leave around 10mm on the sheep, compared to the 3mm with machine shearing, so it acts almost as a vest. This depth also leaves a lot of lanolin on the sheep so you can turn it straight back out in almost any weather with minimal metabolic impact.

The longer cut gives an extended season and blade shearers are happy to shear from March to October.

Research in New Zealand has shown that a blade-shorn sheep has no environmental impact and suffers no shock to the body, and another benefit is that it will grow the equivalent to another fleece of wool during its lifetime.

Having also worked as a machine / blade shearing instructor, he still works closely with the British Wool team of instructors for the general marketing of wool.

In addition to attending British Wool courses, over the years, Andy has also worked closely with British Wool to support the future marketing of wool. Up until around 1998, his farm was a collection centre for about 400 farmers, so he coordinated all of the wool for British Wool in the area and delivered it to the South Molton depot.

He and Jen share their confidence of the industry and Jen has recently completed a Nuffield Scholarship, looking at Wool Processing and Wool Marketing. They are both passionate about wool and feel its overall value has been almost forgotten by the farmer:

“Because wool prices have dropped so much, it has become almost a hassle. It really is vital that we reposition the product as a valued and essential fibre. I feel the time is right to do this. The realisation that synthetics are not helping planet Earth, is an opportunity for us and I feel very strongly that wool has a key
role in furnishing and clothing for humans in the future. It’s interesting to hear that after years of research, the astronauts have gone back to wearing wool as a base layer. I would like to see British Wool continue to take a very progressive role in the marketing of wool in the future as there are such huge opportunities.”

Andy still aspires to be a better shearer and looks to South African, Mayenseke Shweni, to improve: “I have competed against him at the World Championships and I would love to have a one-to-one lesson with him. The way he shears is so relaxed and super-efficient - clean and a pleasure to watch. His shearing is smooth and simplicity at its best - he probably blade shears about 10,000 sheep a year - incredible.

When I started out blade shearing, Noel Handley said to me, ‘Keep getting another sheep out and another and just keep going.’ That has served me well and is still relevant today. Another saying from Noel was ‘Watch and Practice. Watch and Practice’ – you can learn so much technique from watching the best and trying it yourself. You just need to stick with it.”

Andy’s achievements and support for this industry has not been unnoticed, and at the 2018 Bath and West
Show he was awarded a medal and certificate for services to the shearing industry by BISCA - the British Isles Shearing Competitions Association:

“I was totally surprised and totally honoured. It was totally out of the blue. It motivates me to get better, and I would love to help others learn about shearing and see them enjoy the rewards, as I have, from the industry”, concluded Andy.

Fernhill Fibre Fleece Standards

@ Fernhill Farm we starting developing these standards in 2009 when we decided that Fernhill Fibre needed its own identity to set our exceptional fibres above average fleeces grown on UK sheep farms. Working with buyers to perfect our on-farm wool grading and sorting system, we want to share Andrew Wear’s lifetime vision and Jen Hunter’s dedication to highlight the value of raw sheep fleeces as we believe quality begins with genetics, guaranteed at shearing, perfected at handling stages and is easily accessible for buyer to create the colourful future of our exceptional sheep wool fibres

Fibres:

Fernhill Fibre applies improved methods for growing and harvesting fleece from our multipurpose commercial flocks following a transparent holistic approach to produce pasture-fed meat, quality wool whilst enhancing animal welfare, soil biodiversity, shepherding, shearing and wool handling skills.

Harvesting:

Operating throughout the seasons professional Blade shearers select sheep with superior fleeces for timely shearing to harvest fine fleeces in all the native colours. On-farm sorting, grading and colour coding maintains consistent fibre excellence across the grades.

Processing :

Trusting our Great British textile heritage, we continue to seek  gentle biological processing approaches to ensure our fantastic fibres create lifetime fabrics whilst treading lightly on our struggling planet.

Products:
On-line shops and direct farm-gate for Greasy Fleece Excellence. Take commissions for scoured fibres, carded rovings, knitting and weaving yarns. Felted fabrics, finished garments and accessories help us demonstrate our fibre potential at specialist wool events and we run shearing courses, wool workshops and residential courses as we are truly An Arcadian Place to Stay

The Fernhill Jacket – layer up in natural wool

With the arrival of frosty mornings and crisp days, we’re wearing wool more and more on the farm and further afield. Over the past few months we’ve been working with local suppliers to create outer wear and accessories using our beautiful naturally coloured wool.

The Fernhill Jacket is one of these items. It’s a partially lined jacket, which is perfect for slinging over a shirt or top to keep the chill out, or for layering over a knitted jumper to keep you toasty on the coldest of days.

The jacket is made from pure, undyed Fernhill wool, from sheep raised and grazed on our farm on the Mendip Hills. The wool is sent to a mill in Wales to be spun and woven into soft yet durable fabric. This is then sewn into jackets with linen trimming and wooden buttons in a sewing studio near us in Somerset.

We focused on practicality with the design. The dense weave and resilient properties of wool mean that the jacket is water resistant. There are large pockets for phone, keys, wallet and room to spare. The collar can be worn down, or pulled upright to protect the neck from the wind. The design is unisex and comes in 4 sizes.

If you’re looking for a new coat this winter, this is the perfect way to stay warm and support local production and regenerative farming methods. Jackets are available in our online shop here.

Loom knitting for gentle hands – accessible crafting

On the farm and at events we attend, we love to offer a workshop that Jen runs: making a snood on an oversized French knitting loom.
The workshop uses multiple strands of our soft Lopi yarn in various colours, and combines them to make a flexible, versatile accessory that traps in warmth without weighing down.

These sessions were originally designed for adults with special needs. The large pegs and chunky yarn make the workshop friendly and supportive for those who are less dexterous and enjoy a satisfying, quick project. This also makes the craft perfect for children who may not be ready for fiddly, slow work, or people who might have hand and wrist problems that prevent them from spending hours on small-scale traditional knitting. It’s great for those who have no previous experience, or those who have tried the craft before and would like to spend time relaxing and creating something with their hands.

Lopi yarn

The workshop uses our own Lopi yarn that’s completely UK-produced and processed. Our Lopi yarn is based on the traditional Icelandic yarn of the same name, where the wool fibres are very loosely spun into a lofty, airy yarn with little structure and a lot of warmth.
Lopi is usually made from Icelandic wool, which can be quite coarse and not pleasant to wear against the skin. It’s perfect for protecting against harsh weather, though!

The Lopi yarn made from our Fernhill flock, however, is spun from either mostly Shetland or Bluefaced Leicester wool. Through decades of careful breeding, the fibre is soft and still strong, and perfect for items that will be worn against the body for all but the most delicate skin. This means that the resulting garments and accessories benefit from the light, woollen structure to protect from the cold and rain, but are not irritating and scratchy.

Making a snood on a French knitting loom

Using the Lopi in a variety of hand-dyed colours, workshop participants are able to choose their colour combination, wind up a ball of yarn, and then learn how to begin knitting on the loom, work their snood to the desired length, and finish it off. This usually takes only an hour or so, and it’s great to be able to have a finished item by the end of the workshop!

The resulting snood can be worn as a neck-warmer, a short scarf, or a headband, depending how it’s folded. The oversized pegs create a very open fabric that’s immensely flexible and stretchy, making it very comfy to wear. Over time, as the fibres rub against each other, they mesh together a little to trap air perfectly to insulate and provide warmth.

Make your own!

If you have a small group of people who would like to learn this simple, rewarding craft using all local materials, we have workshop tickets available and can arrange a date for you to come to the farm.

We are also soon going to offer the knitting looms and yarn as kits in a slightly reduced range of colours. These will include everything you need to make your own snood at home, with detailed, illustrated instructions. The knitting looms are made by a local woodworker. We’re delighted to be able to team up to bring this craft to people who may not be able to come to the farm or one of the events we attend.

Benefits of Blade Shearing

Shearing is a huge event in the calendar for any sheep farmer, and it’s no different here at Fernhill Farm. We’re looking forward to our Spring Shearing Tournament, and wanted to share a little more about the process. We’ve postponed the beginning of our spring shearing because of the current very low temperatures – the sheep need their wool to protect them from the Beast from the East!

Why is shearing necessary?

Primitive breeds of sheep shed their fleece naturally, but as humans have selected for quality wool production, most sheep now keep growing their wool until it is removed. Shearing is necessary – usually once a year or more frequently – for the wellbeing of the sheep. Removing much of the wool by shearing prevents sheep from overheating and losing mobility, as overgrown fleeces are thick and cumbersome. Excessively long fleece gets dirty, wet and warm, which can lead to flystrike – a very unpleasant infestation that is worth every effort to prevent.

As well as the advantages for the sheep, shearing is of course how we harvest all that lovely wool! Even for breeds that shed their wool, it’s easier to collect all at once it in the shearing sheds rather than running around after it in the fields!

There’s no denying that shearing can be a stressful process for both sheep and farmer. But the timing and the method we choose to shear have been carefully considered, not only to reduce any negative impact of shearing on the sheep, but to improve the welfare of the animals and their young. It’s an added bonus that the practices we use also benefit the quality of the wool we produce!

What are the benefits of blade shearing?

Over many years, electric clippers have increased in popularity as they allow rapid shearing and are easier on the hands than traditional blade shears. However, they remove much more of the fleece, which leaves sheep very exposed. Mechanical shears also generate a lot of heat, which can strip protective lanolin out of the little fleece that’s left on the sheep. Blade shears leave a comfortable layer of wool on the sheep, rich in lanolin. This helps protect them from the elements – both the cold and the sun – especially at important times, such as lambing.

Blade shearing is a quieter process that gives more control to the shearer. While it takes a little longer, this extra care is beneficial for the animals and the quality of the fleece that is removed.

Why shear twice a year?

We blade shear twice a year because we have the Romney and Teeswater (long wool) breeds and this process allows us the flexibility to select which sheep are shorn at what time.

In the Spring we shear just after the natural ‘break’ in the fibre, when the new year’s growth begins to come through. For some sheep this is when the fleece will shed naturally, and for others there is a noticeable ‘rise’ – a weak point where the wool is susceptible to breaking.

For ewes, shearing before lambing allows us to gather the fleece before it declines in quality as resources go to producing milk. They then lamb outside, clean-fleeced and ready to ‘drop and run’ in a natural, healthier environment. If ewes need to be brought inside for lambing they are much less likely to overheat if they don’t have a full coat of wool on – pregnancy acts as a radiator inside their bodies!

Pre-lamb shearing also reduces the stress associated with summer shearing when ewes and lambs traditionally have been separated, and the ewes maternal instincts are reinforced when they seek shelter with their young.

Lambs are shorn in Autumn, which gives an abundant crop of beautiful fine, soft wool. Shearing them before winter encourages them to graze the lush summer growth in the pastures, improving their daily live-weight gains. Shorter fleeces can also shake off excessive water so that long wool coats are not dragging around winter mud. Wool can absorb twice its own weight in water and the Romney long wools have been genetically selected by the Kiwis to have their fleece removed every 8 months.

All sheep will be shorn every eight to twelve months, depending on its purpose in the flocks. This then predetermines the fleece’s suitability for processing into wool products. Thus we can ensure that we get the best crop of fibre and that the welfare of the sheep is always taken into account.

Fancy learning to shear?

Blade shearing is a rare and valuable skill, and Andy Wear, master shearer of Fernhill Farm, is keen to pass on skills to others. We run workshops on the farm allowing people to come and learn. We’ve included a video below to show what’s involved, and gift vouchers are available on our online shop. If you’re interested but not quite ready to give it a go yourself, come along to our shearing tournament on Saturday 24th March!