FEATURE Rural Life
n By Keith Hatch Shear pleasure Fernhill blade shearing is clean, green and a cut above the rest
A misty morning on Mendip saw sheep shearers from across Britain, and beyond, gather for Fernhill Farms bi-annual Blade Shearing Tournament.
As well as local and national competitors, world class blade shearers came from as far as the United States and the Netherlands to compete in three categories. Helping harvest fleeces from over 1,500 lambs and raising the profile of the blade shearing and its environmental benefits in the process.
Fernhill Farm’s Andy Wear is passionate about conservation, regenerative agriculture, rural skills and natural fibres.
Andy, a blade shearer himself, and explained the benefits to the animals as well as the environment. “Blade shearing is a lot gentler process. It is less damaging to the sheep and keeps the lanolin in the fleece which keeps them waterproof.
“Sheep do better being shorn with blades, and it also keeps those traditional skills going. Yes a shearer using clippers can shear at a rate of three to one compared to a blade shearer, but this means more jobs, more skills, more community, less energy used and a better result for the environment.
“Harvesting wool this way locks in the carbon from the fleece. Each lamb should give a kilo of wool, about 700 to 800 grams after washing. In their second year this rises to about two kilos of wool.” Andy explained that using natural fibres such as wool is the opposite to fast fashion. “One kilo would make a large jumper, two kilos a jacket and trousers that will last you the rest of your life if looked after.”
One thing that was noticeable during the tournament was how quiet it was compared to the noise of generators and electric clippers. The lambs seemed very relaxed and the barn was just filled with the
sound judges chatting, the occasional bleating and the gentle swish of the blades.
During the tournament itself judges looked for tufts of wool, skin damage and the even length of cut. Shearers are penalised for nicks as the care and welfare of the lambs is vital because they are using two very sharp pieces of metal.
The tournament has grown over recent years, and now it has become the centrepiece of a farm open day where people can buy farm produce, both food and fibre, as well as joining workshops on wool spinning, peg loom weaving and wood carving.
The was also a full programme of farm walks and talks around regenerative farming and farm ecology.
When it comes to traditional skills and sustainable farming the team at Fernhill Farm really are cutting edge.
Woolly bullies – it’s shear excitement!
29 uniteLANDWORKER Winter 2023/24
Keith Hatch
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