Fernhill Farm
Farmers, Fleece Supplier and Wool School
From 1st 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.
Sheep farmers throughout our entire history, Andy and Jen together breed, grow and harvest approx. 6000kg/ year of verified regenerative wool fibres, in all the native shades of fine, colourful crimp and curls, ideal as spinning yarns to create soft clothing and accessories. Fibres not suited to spinning are made into felt for their sister enterprise Fernhill Fibre and both yarns and felts are commissioned by local artisan companies, using UK processors. A true regenerative eco-farm, hosting 15000 members of the public each year, we welcome all aspects of textile education to the final consumer.
What is so amazing about working with British wool? British Sheep breeds are unique and found all over the world and thus we have over 60 native breeds to choose from. Using our scientific agricultural background, we have used the genetic potential from 6 British native breeds to create our specialist “fibre flock” that we call the “best of the British 6”. This ewe is 100% grass fed all year round, prolific, great mothering and feed conversation abilities, produces over 3kg of long each year and has a long life living naturally here with us on the farm. At the end of their life they offer us great nutrient dense mature meats and beautiful sheepskins which we see as essential when considering a holistic approach to farming for biodiversity.
If any/ what have been your challenges with working with British wool and a local way of working? We blade shear all our ewes so sometimes its hard to find enough shearers and wool handlers to help us maintain value of fibre at shearing as to make a good yarn, each fleece has to be graded at shearing.A decade ago we had to process in volumes of 25kg minimum for a woollen spun yarns and 100kg for worsted and this is a lot of yarns for small companies setting out their intentions. Today we sell more smaller mills operating locally who can offer us a greater rage of options and gauges so we see positivity in the industry. I think we are extremely fortunate to still have our great British textile heritage alive here in the UK and making yarns and felt is relatively easy compared to other parts of the world and we need to encourage using old companies who are specialist in their products.
What gauge of Knitwear do you sell? i.e fine gauge 10-12gg or more chunky knits such as 7-5gg? Its all our own British wool fibres and we sell 1/9, 2/9NM on cones plus plus single 7, 4ply, chunky, and aran weights in hanks and balls for hand knitters. Started a new range of jumpers in 1/9NM.
What weaving looms do you use and how many do you have? We commission our weaving to the Bristol Weaving Mill and Curlew Spinners and Weavers in Wales.
Do you find a lot of push back in the industry in terms of working with British Wool? Lack of confidence, funds and positivity around the greatness of British wool yes - in bulk, final consumers no.
Do you find that customers are becoming more interested in British wool? Yes - in an individual level, they love to come to our farm to buy our yarns and jumpers etc but that is a long hard slow sales model.
On a scale of 1- 10 (1 being the lowest and 10 excellent) how much do you think your business has improved in the below areas as a result of good working practices and environmental standards?
Waste Production - 9 (off-cuts, production)
Plastic Pollution - 7 (packaging)
Water Waste - 10 (dyeing and finishing)
Energy Consumption - 10 (shipping, machinery etc)
Do you have any hero farmers or people in your supply chain you would like to highlight? Fibresheds, Wool Keepers, HDwool, Savory Institute and 3LM.
*Highlights, pre-processing - a term I coined myself that deals with the creation of a fabulous truly British yarn - starting with genetic selection, regenerative grazing, blade shearing, grading and sorting at farm level which are vital to get right, before the processing can even start ie. Before its even washed, we need to build consumer confidence by showcasing the decisions a farmer makes at farm level are essential for great clothing in the future.