Wool, Glorious Wool!
Did You Know?
Wool is an excellent fertilizer because it is a slow-releasing source of nitrogen and trace elements, improving the fertility and health of your soil. Its water-retention and temperature-regulating properties stabilizes the soil environment, and as it decomposes, it improves soil structure.
We use fleece in our flower beds, pots, and bathtubs beneath the soil. We found that during heatwaves our flowers were still blooming even if we forgot to water them. The blooms are vibrant and full of colour, attracting a large number of bees and butterflies.
It can take up to a year to completely erode, giving you long-term benefits to your garden, and used on top of the soil, it can deter not only weeds, but those pesky slugs and snails, not to mention protects plants during frost.
Did You Know?
Currently, the British Wool Board are paying around 30p/kg for wool which means that farmers are receiving less than £1 per fleece. Shearers charge anywhere from £1 - £2.80 per sheep (more for smaller, hobby flocks) which means that the farmers are often left well out of pocket.
Many farmers are choosing to burn perfectly good, excellent quality fleeces in the hundreds because not only does the British Wool Board not pay an appropriate amount for the fleece, they expect farmers to then pay extra to get the fleece to the depots, either by using their own time and fuel to deliver the wool, or by charging farmers a fee to collect it.
Some farmers have been billed by the wool board.
If you use wool for whatever reason, please consider going to your local farmers (most of them don't bite, and many don't have social media).
Did You Know?
Wool can be used in muddy areas such as gateways, bogs, and paths. Fleece fibres are designed to repel water to a degree to keep it from becoming saturated, but once it gets thoroughly wet, it absorbs and holds moisture (We stopped a small flood in our barn last year using fleece as a barrier when the sandbags failed).
On boggy land, fleece can stop stones from sinking into the mud, creating a floating pathway.
Fleece is becoming increasingly popular with equestrians, particularly on track systems.
If you want to try fleece for your own muddy nightmares, get in touch!
Did You Know?
There are over 60 purebred sheep breeds in the UK alone? Up to 90 if we factor in crossbred and composite breeds. Our native breeds are designed to survive in their natural territories, from the mountains in Scotland, the moors in Cumbria and Yorkshire, to the lowland breeds down south.
We are so very lucky to have an abundance of choice when it comes to our sheep, and our fleece!