It's a wrap! - Wonderwool event hosts wool wrapping courses
It's one thing getting the wool off the back of a sheep and it's another knowing how to handle it correctly. So for those keen to master the skills of handling and wrapping fleeces there's no better place to be than at the Wonderwool Wales event taking place at the Royal Welsh Showground in May.
Wonderwool Wales, a festival of Welsh wool and natural fibres, is part of the Royal Welsh 2007 Smallholder and Garden Festival being held at Builth Wells on May 19th and 20th.
As part of the British Wool Marketing Board's presence at the event there will be two one-day training courses on fleece handling
Colin MacGregor, the British Wool Marketing Board's shearing manager, is organising the fleece handling course. He is keen to encourage more people to learn how to handle and wrap fleeces to a high standard.
"Wool values aren't high at the moment but we hope that all those involved in the sheep industry will continue to take a pride in the wool they produce
- and knowing how to handle fleeces properly is an important part of that.
Anyone wishing to take part in the fleece handling course underway at Wonderwool Wales should contact - Philippa Gough at the Newtown office on 01686 626449.
Wonderwool will once again be a celebration of wool produced in Wales - home to 4M breeding ewes whose fleeces provide the raw material for a thriving and diverse industry. This year's event has doubled in size, such is the interest in Welsh wool.
Organised by Glasu, the LEADER + rural development programme for Powys, this year's will host 80 trade stands featuring a vast range of wool and wool products as well as many natural fibres including mohair, alpaca and angora.
Tim Booth, the British Wool Marketing Board's product development manager, said the event highlighted the value of wool to designers and craft workers.
"The continued success of Wonderwool Wales is a great opportunity to showcase the talents and skills of the many designers and craftworkers who work with natural fibres. The event is truly a tribute to everyone involved in the production of Welsh wool," said Tim Booth.
