farm, food & countryside

the fibre

of choice

British Sheep

Longevity

Environmental

Sheep have been kept in Britain

Wool is natural, renewable, reusable

When looked after wool is very

since Roman times and their

and biodegradable.

long-lasting. In 1991 a perfectly

resilient wool has enjoyed a

preserved woollen sock was found

Safety

prestigious international reputation.

buried on a silty river bank. It was

Racing car drivers wear wool lined

British farmers look after 40 million

over a 1,000 years old.

suits to reduce the chances of being

sheep and there are over 60

Not too hot, not too cold,

burned in a fiery crash. Unlike most

different breeds. Without sheep the

just right.

artificial fibres, which often melt and

much-loved landscape of Britain

stick to the skin when on fire, wool

Wool is comfortable to wear year

would not look as lovely.

usually only smoulders and resists

round because it is an absorbent

flaming. This also makes it safer for

fibre that helps regulate body

UK is the world's fifth largest

home furnishings.

temperature. Wool fibres trap air

producer of wool. The national clip

making wool warm without being

weighs 46 million kg and is worth

Carpets

heavy. Thin wool fabrics are also

around £80m.

In Britain 70% of wool goes into

cool because they help carry

carpets. Carpet wool needs to be

DID YOU KNOW?

moisture away. These properties

resilient, soft underfoot yet resistant

also make wool a excellent natural

Sheep do not just provide meat

to the ravages of intensive foot

alternative for use in home

and wool, they can also be milked

traffic. Our native breeds, developed

insulation.

and their body fat produces tallow

over the centuries to thrive on our

for things like candles and soap.

Strength

hills and fells, grow wool which is

naturally designed to withstand

Wool is so strong it is used to cover

harsh winds, driving rain and snow.

tennis balls and billiard tables.Wool

These sheep produce coarse wool

can be extended to up to 70% of

with high tensile strength and

its natural length and when the

Look out for the

resilience which enables the carpet

tension is released, it returns to its

Shepherds Crook

pile yarn to spring back to its original

natural length.

Mark that denotes

form even after the heaviest traffic.

British Wool

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