Hebridean Sheep - credit Dagna Linton
Blankets and several shades of knitting wool made from the fleece of our very own sheep are available to buy.
About 10 years ago Yorkshire Wildlife Trust was given a small flock of about 60 black Hebridean sheep to be used for conservation grazing. Over the years this flock has been managed so that now there are over 500 sheep which are kept at three home sites and sent out in "teams" to graze more than 35 of our reserves to maintain important habitats for wildlife.
Hebridean sheep are particularly suited to conservation grazing because they are small, hardy and self-tending. In the past their wool, which is a lovely chocolate colour and very warm and hard wearing, has been used primarily for compost.
In the last two years Yorkshire Wildlife Trust has begun to develop this resource and the results are high quality, warm and durable limited edition wool products. Each year these products will be special and slightly different as we design and produce them all in small quantities only for the Trust here in Yorkshire. The carbon footprint of our wool and knitted goods is less than 50 miles from grazing sheep to carding, spinning, knitting, and then to you.
Visit our Webshop to see our beautiful, one-of-a-kind blankets and knitting yarn. These are also for sale at our Head Office in York, the Living Seas Centre at Flamborough, the Blue Bell Cafe at Spurn National Nature Reserve and at Potteric Carr, near Doncaster.
