Fernhill Fibre

Verified Regenerative Fibres from the Source of the Resource

Mutton Club - end of Winter Celebration
Feb
10
7:00 PM19:00

Mutton Club - end of Winter Celebration

A long-time ambition of ours, is the Mutton Club - an appreciation for all things Fernhill Farm, and a celebration of sheep and nomadic shepherding

We won’t make you eat mutton on every occasion and all dietary requests will be fully catered for, it’s just a simple evening of togetherness with a focus on true food, lovely conversations, some sort of entertainment in a warm safe space here on the Mendip Hills.

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Chew Magna Christmas Fayre
Dec
2
2:15 PM14:15

Chew Magna Christmas Fayre

Festive Markets

This year the Chew Magna Christmas Market is hosting their biggest Festive Markets to date!

So many amazing Stallholders they will have 3 venues filled with them, including Fernhill Fibre to be found upstairs in the old school toom

Come along and make sure you check them all out - Bring plenty of empty shopping bags, we promise you that you'll soon fill them up

#chewmagnachristmasfayre #festivemarkets #countdowntochristmas

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WOOL SCHOOL II - 13th - 16th October
Oct
13
to Oct 16
Courses, Retreats

WOOL SCHOOL II - 13th - 16th October

Fernhill Fibre WOOL SCHOOL II

Progress your skills with a multitude of craft activities that include advanced spinning, art yarns, various weaving options, French knitting, 3D needle felting with wires etc

Tuition is provided by the expert team we lovingly invite here that includes Christine Rice and Lesley Hill and Brenda Hamblin. All are incredibly knowledgeable about all aspects of wool textile crafts and are here the entire time to assist, encourage and listen to everyone as you all progress through the wool school at your own pace - everyone is welcome at any stage of their understanding of working with a natural fibre

WOOL SCHOOL ii will run alongside our original wool school, in the saloon room with areas divided up to offer a communal learning experience whatever level everyone finds themselves at - this allows those new and familiar with our setting to join in and enjoy a weekend together

Session 1: Introduction to WOOL SCHOOL (Friday 13th from 2pm)

French Knit a chunky snood or cowl using Fernhill Farm style giant French Knitting Looms - this session is designed to enable a gentle welcome for participants to enjoy using various yarns, that include lopi, pencil rovings and is a great way to use up bits and bobs of home spun yarns, bringing colour to the classroom. This is an easy start whilst we chat about personal wool journeys, where we can prepare you all for the next few days ahead. These create your own personalised warm and cosy warm neck warmers, ideal for the Mendip Chilly winds here. Can also be booked as an individual workshop - please select Snood Workshop at checkout

Session 2 - Advanced Spinning - (Saturday 14th from 9.30am)

This is a follow-on session from WOOL SCHOOL for those wishing to explore a new range of spinning styles

  • Please do let us know what you wish to learn here and we can grow your own styles

  • This session can also be used as additional time for practice plying, skeining etc

Session 3 - Art Yarns (Saturday 14th from 2pm)

  • Please do let us know what you wish to learn here and we can grow your own styles

  • This session can also be used as additional time for practice plying, skeining etc

(Saturdays only is now fully booked, to allow those wanting to book the full wool school)

Session 4 Weaving (Sunday 15th from 9.30am) - Yarns can then be woven - tuition and commercial spun yarns provided as requested - details of Looms coming soon

Session 5 Weaving (Sunday 15th from 2pm) - as above

Session 6 (Monday 16th from 9.30am) - Needle felting 3D shapes with wires - optional 2D picture - as this is the final session, can also be used to finish up any spinning, plying, skeining etc. Can also be booked as an individual workshop - please select Needle Felt Wire Workshop at checkout

Start and End dates:

Friday 13th @ noon to Monday 16th @ noon

Day(s) of the week: Week days and Weekend options

Times: Arrival and departure days allow travel in daylight hours, starting / finishing at lunchtime

Full days are 9am - 4.00 pm with practice session in the evenings

Location: Fernhill Farm in the Saloon – ground floor heated workshop space with ample parking, kitchen-diner and lots of space for workshop activities

Price / day: £40pp/session - Includes room hire, hot drinks, together with wool ingredients, use of appropriate kit hire and tuition – please BYO lunch - please note some specialist materials may be extra should you wish to purchase these when here onsite

What to bring along etc: No previous skills required – welcome to bring own materials, wheels, spindles etc if you wish but not necessary – dress warm for a farm with sensible shoes - your own food provisions for each day

Maximum number we can accept / day: 9/day – spaces are limited and booked on a first come first served basis

How To Book WOOL SCHOOL II:

Available to book the 4 day package - see WOOL SCHOOL II option

Available to book Saturday 14th sessions 2 and 3 - see WSii Advanced spinning option

Available to book Sunday 15th - flexible sessions - see WSii - weaving option

Available to book Snood Workshop - Friday 13th @ 2pm session 1 - see Snood workshop option

Available to book Wet Felt Wire Workshop - Sunday 15th @ 2pm session 5 - see Wet Felt Wire option

We have cosy onsite accommodation here with various glamping options to choose from - accommodation can be pre-booked - please see www.fernhill-farm.co.uk for details

If you are willing to share - please select Bunk Bed option at £42/n at checkout

Some have requested to BYO campervan, so we have added this as an option - please select Van option at £20/n/van at checkout

TBC - Mutton Club - social Saturday Night dinners - please select these using this link thanks MUTTON CLUB

BOOK HERE

Extra materials can be purchased on site - have a look what we have here www.fernhillfibre.co.uk/shop

For more details please email jen@fernhill-farm.co.uk

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WOOL SCHOOL - 13th - 16th October
Oct
13
to Oct 16
Courses, Retreats

WOOL SCHOOL - 13th - 16th October

Fernhill Fibre WOOL SCHOOL

Understand the basics with harvesting, selecting, prepping and washing raw sheep fleece ready for a multitude of craft activities that include spinning, weaving, knitting, wet felting, needle felting etc

Tuition is provided by the expert team we lovingly invite here known as Christine Rice and Lesley Hill. Both are incredibly knowledgeable about all aspects of wool textile crafts and are here the entire time to assist, encourage and listen to every one as you all progress through the wool school at your own pace - everyone is welcome at any stage of their understanding of working with a natural fibre

Session 1: Introduction to WOOL SCHOOL

Weaving a chunky tuffet seat pad using Fernhill Style Peg Looms - this session is designed to enable a gentle welcome to allow time for participants to see and feel fleece parts, whilst chatting about their own wool journey, ready for the next few days ahead. These create your own personalised warm and cosy seat pad ready for all your next sessions. Can also be booked as an individual workshop - please select Tuffet Workshop at checkout

Session 2 - topics covered include

What is kemp, microns and fibre diameter - effect on finished yarns

  • Native colours and markings from the Shetland and Coloured BFL and Romney Rams

  • Fibre length, fibre strength, fibre weaknesses - when selecting fleece

  • Sheep fleece parts and their subsequent qualities

  • Using seconds and waste wool

    Session 3 - topics covered include:

  • Ways of washing wool, lanolin removal, lanolin rich fleece

  • Drying fleece

  • Picking, carding, making rolags using hand carders and carding machine

  • Spinning rolags, yarn onto bobbins using variety of spinning wheels

  • Plying into hanks, skeins and balls

  • Storage of yarns

Session 4 - Yarns can then be knitted or woven - tuition provided as requested - this session can also be used as additional time for spinning practice, plying, skeining etc

Session 5 - Felting - wet felting technique to make a bowl shape - this session can also be used as additional spinning practice, plying, skeining etc. Can also be booked as an individual workshop - please select Wet Felt Workshop at checkout

Session 6 - Needle felting 3D shapes - optional 2D pictures - as this is the final session, can also be used to finish up any spinning, plying, skeining etc. Can also be booked as an individual workshop - please select Needle Felt Workshop at checkout

Start and End dates:

Friday 13th @ noon to Monday 16th @ noon

Day(s) of the week: Week days and Weekend options

Times: Arrival and departure days allow travel in daylight hours, starting / finishing at lunchtime

Full days are 9am - 4.00 pm with practice session in the evenings

Location: Fernhill Farm in the Saloon – ground floor heated workshop space with ample parking, kitchen-diner and lots of space for workshop activities

Price / day: £40pp/session - Includes room hire, hot drinks, together with wool ingredients, use of appropriate kit hire and tuition – please BYO lunch - please note some specialist materials may be extra should you wish to purchase these when here onsite

What to bring along etc: No previous skills required – welcome to bring own materials, wheels, spindles etc if you wish but not necessary – dress warm for a farm with sensible shoes - your own food provisions for each day

Maximum number we can accept / day: 6-9/day – spaces are limited and booked on a first come first served basis

How To Book:

Available to book the 4 day package - see 4 day options - Block 1 or Block 2

Available to book 1/2 day to suit your own schedule - see 1/2 day option

Available to book 1 day or multiples of 1 one to suit your own schedule - see 1 day option

Available to book Needle Felt Workshop - am or pm session Saturday 12th - see Felt workshop option

Available to book Tuffet Workshop - am or pm session - see Tuffet workshop option

Full list of workshops with dates and times - see timetable - contact us with your preferences thanks 

Accommodation can be also be pre-booked - please see www.fernhill-farm.co.uk for details of farm accommodation options

(please note - dates showing as booked online as all beds are now reserved for the wool school participants - even though we shall only have 10 spread out across the 30 bed options)

We have cosy accommodation here with lots of beds to choose from - these are mostly double bunk beds in shared rooms / glamping arcs

It’s highly likely you shall have your own space and toilet and shower in a big barn on a self catering basis with plenty of social spaces for everyone - please select Bunk Bed option at £42/n at checkout

Also as some have requested to BYO camper van, we have added this as an option too - please select Van option at £20/n/van at checkout

BOOK HERE

Extra materials can be purchased on site - have a look what we have here www.fernhillfibre.co.uk/shop

For more details please email jen@fernhill-farm.co.uk

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The Nettle Dress Film with Q&A - invited guest
Oct
7
6:00 PM18:00

The Nettle Dress Film with Q&A - invited guest

Sustainable Fashion Week Frome: Screening of Dylan Howitt’s documentary The Nettle Dress with Q&A

Allan Brown makes a dress by hand just from the fibre of foraged stinging nettles over 7 years. A labour of love in the truest sense. The Nettle Dress is a modern-day fairytale and hymn to the healing power of nature and slow craft. It’s one story representing a huge groundswell of people rediscovering the joys of making. Actor Mark Rylance called the film “Exquisite and inspiring, beautiful and helpful for anyone suffering loss or grief.”

https://www.nettledress.org/

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Blade Shearing Tournament & Fleece Sale – Autumn 2023
Sep
16
10:00 AM10:00
Tournaments, Open Days

Blade Shearing Tournament & Fleece Sale – Autumn 2023

Please find yourself invited to join us at Fernhill Farm to watch the sheep being shorn in our lively shearing shed.

World Class Blade shearers will be taking part in this bi-annual tournament to compete with plenty of the best this industry has to offer and help raise the profile of the Benefits of Blade Shearing here in the UK.

Buy fleece fresh off the boards in the shearing shed, as well as finished products made from our wool in our pop-up Sheep Shop - beautiful scarves, blankets, yarn, clothing, bespoke sheepskins and more in a range of natural and dyed colours. 

Throughout the day wool spinning and peg loom weaving workshops will be available from the Fernhill Fibre team, and we welcome all those who use natural resources to promote and create rural activities.

NEW - we are also welcoming visitors to create a spinning wheel sale / exchange area - we will take no commission or lead on this, its simply a way to share resources amongst the crowd as ancient tools should be celebrated as we recognise the importance of hand tools

On the food front:

The Fernhill Farm team will be here serving up delicious tasty meals, with an array of local ciders and ales and The Coffee.Box will park up and serve amazing cakes alongside their fantastic hot beverages.

Yeo Valley Ice-creams and Home Wood Sheep Cheeses complete the local feasts on offer - all within a few miles from our farm.

Fernhill Farm meat boxes will be available from the freezers on the day - please bring your own chiller box and stock up for the Autumn feast season - Produce Shop details HERE

Fred Bonestroo will be bringing his Organic Veg truck again - Fred is a Blade Shearer who is Farmer Freds Close Farm Tetbury and grows a truly excellent range of seasonal vegetables in organic ways

Demonstrations:

Sheep Dog* demonstrations will happen just outside the shearing shed - Mike Dowden is chairman of the Come Bye and Away Sheepdog Training and Trailing group near Glastonbury and will be showing training ideas with all levels of working sheep dogs, from pups to old collies (*Please leave your dogs at home thanks)

Delighted to welcome wood carving workshops again with Tim Graham - Tim is a green woodworker and carver based in Frome. Using a variety of tools he creates spoons, cups and bowls from trees that have been recently felled. His work reflects the timber from which it has been carved utilising natural curves and bends in the wood to add strength to the finished products.

Tim will be running 30 minute carving workshops at 11am, 1pm and 3pm where participants can carve their own knitting needles using wood collected from Fernhill Farm. Please sign up at his stall on the day. www.timclivegraham.bigcartel.com  @timclivegraham

Land Logic Timber will be here with all things Timbers and sharp and dangerous tools again - thanks to Rupert we have built our sheds, glamping arcs and clad our Horseshoe Barns using our home grown and local timber supplies

On the regenerative educational theme, we have a full day of farm walks and talks:

10.30am - Arran Redman from ifA - Talking Soil - Arran is a Natural Resources Advisor working with i4Agri and is leading the project Exploring Livestock Emissions (ELE) Action Group Fernhill farm is participating in - soils samples have been taken and the details showcased here at our Farm Open Day - visiting pre-dug soil pits to show the effect holistic grazing has on soil systems, plant and root dynamics with nutrient exchange.

11.30am - Nature Recovery with the local Ranger Nathan Orr from the Mendip Hills AONB - see details below at 4pm

12.30 - regenerative sessions with Christopher and Sheila Cooke from 3LM - a 2-part informative introduction to studying Regenerative Farming principles -

12.30 - Part 1 is a 45 minute overview of Fernhill Farms EOV results, indoors looking at a slideshow with Jen interpreting field analysis data with practical explanations over the last 4 years on the Land to Market Platform with Savory Institute

1.15 - Part 2 is the 3LM Land Discovery Tour walking across the land looking at key indicator species etc - all outdoors for approximately 45 minutes

2.00pm - WET Systems with Jay Abrahams from Biologic Design Ltd - Wastewater is purified naturally at Fernhill Farm by a Wetland Ecosystem Treatment or WET System, based on permaculture design principles. Jay will shows his design slides in our Saloon classroom, followed by a tour of the WET system www.biologicdesign.co.uk

4.00pm - Nature Recovery with the local Ranger Nathan Orr from the Mendip Hills AONB

This information is approximate, times may vary on the day so please do check in again when your here for the latest updates and follow our event page from September 7th

Slideshows will be within the Saloon Classroom, next to farm café and toilets - meeting point is just outside the Saloon - within the Hay Shed, opposed to the Sheep Shearing Shed

Free entry to all – it's a perfect family day out (NO DOGS) and please do get in contact if you wish to get involved wool@fernhill-farm.co.uk

All proceeds are donated as prize money for talented shearers

See official event page on Facebook here for latest information: Blade Tournament Autumn Equinox 2023

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Low Stress Livestock Handling Training 1-Day Course
Jul
13
9:30 AM09:30

Low Stress Livestock Handling Training 1-Day Course

Learn to see the world the way a cow does, so you can be safe and stress-free in handling them. Educator Miriam Parker was trained by the originators, Bud Williams and Temple Grandin, and was awarded an MBE for services in farming in 2006. The course involves classroom sessions, as well as outdoor exercises with cattle. We limit the course to 12 participants so everyone gets a turn

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WONDERWOOL WALES
Apr
22
to Apr 24

WONDERWOOL WALES

  • Royal Welsh Showground, (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Wonderwool Wales is the premier Wool & Natural Fibre Festival in Wales and is held annually on the last weekend in April at the Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells, Powys.

First held in 2006 to promote the market for Welsh wool and add value to product for small wool & fibre producers in Wales, the festival celebrates the green credentials of Welsh wool and its versatility as a material for creative crafts, designer clothes, home furnishings and more. Wonderwool Wales has grown year on year. It covers everything from the start to the end of the creative process – from exhibits of sheep, through raw and hand dyed fibres, yarn for knitting & crochet, embellishments, equipment, dyes and books to superb examples of finished textile art, craft, clothing and home furnishings.

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Webinar: Utilising data to guide land management decisions
Nov
10
7:30 PM19:30

Webinar: Utilising data to guide land management decisions

We hear that people don’t want to change, but subsidies and input costs are changing rapidly, so we need to become flexible and proactive managers of land, and we need to feel this is a good thing to do.

Ecological Outcome Verification (EOV) is a programme of change.

We’ve got to change to have a better life and make more money.

Put an ecological baseline in so you can understand what you’ve got. Get a better understanding of your soil and how it impacts your grass.
EOV helps you know how to implement little changes one step at a time – finding a pathway that is easy to approach for a lot of farmers so they can see benefits straight away – Andy Wear

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Stitch Fest South West 2022
Nov
5
to Nov 6
Shows

Stitch Fest South West 2022

Fernhill Fibre will be exhibiting again at Stitch Fest where we pack up our wool shop and take it on the road South to Newton Abbot for a full weekend of wool craft, sales and support as Devon’s biggest yarn show delivers all that is required when it comes to finding you wool fix!

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Sheep Farmer of the Year Award - Farmers Weekly 2022
Oct
6
6:00 PM18:00

Sheep Farmer of the Year Award - Farmers Weekly 2022

Sheep Farmer of the Year Award

Farmers Weekly 2022

Delighted to win the Sheep Farmer of the Year Award 2022 by Farmers Weekly

Many thanks to Shearwell Data - Animal Identification and Management Systems :: Shearwell.co.uk for sponsoring this award

Farmers Weekly Awards - Categories - Farmer's Weekly (fwi.co.uk)

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Blade Shearing Tournament & Fleece Sale – Autumn 2022
Sep
18
10:30 AM10:30
Tournaments, Open Days

Blade Shearing Tournament & Fleece Sale – Autumn 2022

Please find yourself invited to join us at Fernhill Farm to watch the sheep being shorn in our lively shearing shed.

World Class Blade shearers will be taking part in this bi-annual tournament to compete with plenty of the best this industry has to offer and help raise the profile of the Benefits of Blade Shearing here in the UK.

Buy fleece fresh off the boards in the shearing shed, as well as finished products made from our wool in our pop-up Sheep Shop - beautiful scarves, blankets, yarn, clothing and more in a range of natural and dyed colours. 

Throughout the day wool spinning, peg loom weaving and needle felt workshops will be available from the Fernhill Fibre team, and we welcome all those who use natural resources to promote and create rural activities.

The Fernhill Farm team will be here serving up delicious tasty meals, with an array of local drinks and The Coffee.Box will park up and serve amazing cakes alongside their fantastic hot beverages.

Free entry to all – it's a perfect family day out (NO DOGS) and please do get in contact if you wish to get involved wool@fernhill-farm.co.uk

All proceeds are donated as prize money for talented shearers

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British Strong Wool Ewe Blade Shearing Record Attempt
Sep
17
6:00 AM06:00

British Strong Wool Ewe Blade Shearing Record Attempt

Two stand British Strong Wool Ewes Blade Shearing Record

September 17th, 2022 from 6am to 6pm for 9 hours of Blade Shearing

Location is our Sheep Shearing Shed @ Fernhill Farm

https://www.facebook.com/events/AndyWearandElfedJackson

https://www.facebook.com/Andrew-Wear-Elfed-Jackson-British-Blade-Shearing-Record-Attempt

Please find details of the official sponsorship letter here:

I am Andrew Wear from Fernhill Farm on the Mendip hills, Somerset with a huge passion for Blade Shearing. Together with my partner Jen Hunter and our two teenage sons we holistically manage 1300 Romney cross Shetland ewes alongside our events and wool enterprises.

 Awarded the BISCA long standing dedication to the shearing industry, I am recognised as a UK ambassador for Blade Shearing and delighted to share we are a current Sheep Farmer of the Year Finalist 2022.

 I would also like to introduce my teammate Elfed Jackson, a farmer and part time agricultural collage tutor running 700 Welsh Mountain Ewes with his wife Bwn, on the family’s tenanted farm on the Carneddau range in Snowdonia.

 We have known each other since 1985 when we first competed at the Royal Bath and West show. Since then, we have competed against each other at most shows here in Britain and travelled and competed at many World Shearing Championships including South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Scotland, Ireland and France.

 As we are both celebrating a very special 60th birthday this year, we have decided that we are going to attempt a Two stand, nine-hour, Strong Wool Ewe Blade Shearing British record at Fernhill farm –

 We will be the first two in the UK to attempt a British Two stand Strong Wool Ewe Blade Shearing Record and we are confident that we will be successful.

 We are therefore writing to ask if you would kindly offer to sponsor our British Record attempt.  We are seeking to raise a considerable amount for our chosen charities and to help cover costs.

These costs include a £2000 fee to the British Isles Shearing Competition Association (BISCA), the expenses of adjudicators and judges who will be present to scrutinise the quality of our shearing throughout the day. A designated animal welfare officer will ensure that the highest standards of husbandry are maintained under strict record conditions and a team of people, that without their help in preparing the sheep and making sure the day runs smoothly without whom a record would not be possible, will need accommodation in the vicinity of the farm.

Andy and Jen will be responsible for management of the record sheep until the event, and with their vast experience of running previous British & World records at their farm, we can trust the highest standards of organisation will be achieved. This detailed preparation incurs costs including setting up the shearing stand to British Record requirements and ensuring the correct sheep handling facilities are in place, as well as managing the flock’s optimum health through the summer.

Other costs include employing a technician, a skilled expert to manage our shearing gear, a sheep Vet present on the day in charge of welfare, a first aider, and providing Fernhill Farm Food and Accommodation with ample facilities for all the team on the day.

Our chosen charities whom we are raising funds and awareness for is the DPJ Foundation and FCN.

The DPJ Foundation, which supports those in the Agricultural sector in Wales. The mental health farming charity works with leading organisations in agriculture including NFU Cymru, FUW, YFC, Vets and Welsh Government to help provide an accessible and flexible service.

The Farming Community Network (FCN) is a voluntary organisation and charity that supports farmers and families within the farming community through difficult times.

We should be very grateful if you would please consider the following sponsorship brackets:

 Premium Sponsor

Required financial contribution: £1,000

 Your Company logo will feature on all team t-shirts and our shearing singlets on the day.

Your Company logo will feature on all promotional material and social media surrounding the event.

Your Company logo will feature on the tally board which will be photographed throughout the day.

Your Company banner will be positioned above the shearing stand in main view of supporters present on the day and video streaming of the event worldwide.

 Major Sponsor

Required financial contribution: £500 - £1,000

 Your Company logo will feature on all team t-shirts and our shearing singlets on the day.

Your Company logo will feature on all promotional material and social media surrounding the event.

Your Company banner will be visible at the back or sides of the shed on the day of the event.

 Sponsor

Required financial contribution: £250 - £500

Your Company logo will feature on all promotional material and social media surrounding the event.

Your Company banner will be visible at the event.

 We should be very grateful if you could contact me at your earliest convenience, so that work to organise the event can begin as quickly as possible with your support. This is the first time a British 9 hour, two stand, Strong Wool Ewe Blade Shearing Record has ever been attempted and success on the day will be down to the huge effort from all involved and the generosity of sponsors in making it possible.

Media coverage of the event will no doubt be extensive, previous shearing records in the UK have attracted a great deal of global media attention for the sponsors involved.  

 If you are able to commit to sponsorship, please return by post your approved contribution as a cheque made payable to Fernhill Farm or pay directly into Account Fernhill Farm 01137809 sort code 30.99.51

 Many thanks in advance for your contribution, which will empower farmers of all ages to share in good and difficult times and raise money for such worthwhile charities.

 Yours sincerely Andy Wear

andy@fernhill-farm.co.uk

07712616797

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Adding value to fleece - bridging the gap between farm and yarn with Jen Hunter - Groundswell
Jun
23
4:00 PM16:00
Courses, Conferences, Shows

Adding value to fleece - bridging the gap between farm and yarn with Jen Hunter - Groundswell

Adding Value To Fleece - Bridging The Gap Between Farm & Yarn With Jen Hunter - Groundswell (groundswellag.com)

A pioneering farmer’s daughter with a genuine respect for rural sciences, Jen was fortunate to find a good shepherd and future husband Andrew Wear in 2004. Together we have created the opportunity to grow our family business as the ‘Fernhill Farm Experience’, offering 15000 visitors/annum the opportunity to visit and stay on our multi-purpose livestock farm focusing on ‘regenerative agricultural’ practices.

Jen says – “Wool has been my passion and concern since 2009 when the devaluation of natural fibres and promotion of synthetics left behind an excellent base material suitable for many industries. As a 2014 Nuffield Farming Scholar I researched global wool industry trends and we strive to reposition wool in society as a primary product rather than by-product from the sheep meat industry”.

This demonstration will take place at Fibreshed stand B8B

@ 4.00pm Wednesday 23rd June 2022

Jen Hunter offers a practical demonstration of gathering and throwing fleece from the shearer onto the grading tables, so it’s in the right position to be graded. You’ll learn about strength testing, grading to include skirting, removal of damaged, contaminated, and felted fibres, and how to select a fleece for processing to spin or felt. Dividing the fleece into its various qualities enables us to find a use for all parts and knowing what to look for when creating yarn batches determines what to use for yarn, what can still be used for felting, stuffing, mulching and much more!

Adding Value To Fleece - Bridging The Gap Between Farm & Yarn With Jen Hunter - Groundswell (groundswellag.com)

Groundswell takes place over two days – Wednesday 22nd and Thursday 23rd June 2022 at Lannock Manor Farm, a working no-till farm in North Hertfordshire, just off Junction 9 of the A1(M). The postcode is SG4 7EE.

To be kept updated on Groundswell 2022 sign up to their newsletter

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The Art of Blade Shearing a Sheep - Andy Wear - Groundswell
Jun
22
1:30 PM13:30

The Art of Blade Shearing a Sheep - Andy Wear - Groundswell

The Art Of Blade Shearing With International Renowned Shearer Andy Wear - Groundswell (groundswellag.com)

Brought up on a sheep farm in the South West, Andy Wear, after seeing a blade shearer at work, knew that this was a skill he wanted to learn, but never imagined the experiences and achievements he would gain from performing one of the most fundamental aspects of sheep management.

A former contract machine shearer, Andy has always admired the craft of blade shearing, a skill still commonly used around the world. He first started machine shearing at the age of 15, and following his graduation from university, went overseas to shear in New Zealand.

This demonstration will take place at Fibreshed stand B8B

@ 1.30pm Tuesday 22nd June 2022

Blade shearing is a more holistic form of shearing – with no mechanical heat or vibrations it is slower and less stressful for the sheep, with better quality wool being harvested. Extending the shearing season across 8 months of the year, welfare of the sheep brings added benefits. It is a subtle art form, blending three opposing fundamentals, the mind of the sheep, the mind of the shearer and a sharp blade! Andy will demo a sheep being shorn by blades, whilst providing a detailed explanation of the techniques involved and the intricacies of the requirements for wool harvesting!

The Art Of Blade Shearing With International Renowned Shearer Andy Wear - Groundswell Groundswell (groundswellag.com)

Groundswell takes place over two days – Wednesday 22nd and Thursday 23rd June 2022 at Lannock Manor Farm, a working no-till farm in North Hertfordshire, just off Junction 9 of the A1(M). The postcode is SG4 7EE.

To be kept updated on Groundswell 2022 sign up to their newsletter

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WOOL SCHOOL - February 2022
Feb
9
to Feb 15
Courses, Retreats

WOOL SCHOOL - February 2022

Fernhill Fibre WOOL SCHOOL

Understand the basics with harvesting, selecting, prepping and washing raw sheep fleece ready for a multitude of craft activities that include spinning, weaving, knitting, wet felting, needle felting etc

Tuition is provided by the expert team we lovingly invite here known as Christine Rice and Lesley Hill. Both are incredibly knowledgeable about all aspects of wool textile crafts and are here the entire time to assist, encourage and listen to every one as you all progress through the wool school at your own pace - everyone is welcome at any stage of their understanding of working with a natural fibre

Session 1 - topics covered include:

  • Sheep breed qualities and Hybrid Vigour - supporting literature available

  • What is kemp, microns and fibre diameter - effect on finished yarns

  • Native colours and markings from the Shetland and Coloured BFL and Romney Rams

  • Fibre length, fibre strength, fibre weaknesses - when selecting fleece

  • Sheep fleece parts and their subsequent qualities

  • Using seconds and waste wool

    Session 2 - topics covered include:

  • Ways of washing wool, lanolin removal, lanolin rich fleece

  • Drying fleece

  • Picking, carding, making rolags using hand carders and carding machine

  • Spinning rolags, yarn onto bobbins using variety of spinning wheels

  • Plying into hanks, skeins and balls

  • Storage of yarns

Session 3 - Yarns can then be knitted or woven - tuition provided as requested - this session can also be used as additional spinning practice, plying, skeining etc

Session 4 - Weaving a chunky tuffet seat pad - using Fernhill Style Peg Looms or natural or acid dye workshop if requested - this session can also be used as additional spinning practice, plying, skeining etc

Session 5 - Felting - ways of wet felting, using part felted fleeces to make rugs or making a bowl shape - this session can also be used as additional spinning practice, plying, skeining etc

Session 6 - Needle felting 3D shapes - optional 2D pictures - this session can also be used as additional spinning practice, plying, skeining etc

Start and End dates:

Block 1 - Wednesday 9th @ noon to Saturday 12th @ noon - see orange timetable

Block 2 - Saturday 12th @ 1pm to Tuesday 15th @ noon - see green timetable

Day(s) of the week: Week days and Weekend options

Times: Arrival and departure days allow travel in daylight hours, starting / finishing at lunchtime

Full days are 9am - 4.00 pm with practice session in the evenings

Location: Fernhill Farm in the Saloon – ground floor heated workshop space with ample parking, kitchen-diner and lots of space for workshop activities

Price / day: £40pp/session - Includes room hire, hot drinks, together with wool ingredients, use of appropriate kit hire and tuition – please BYO lunch - please note some specialist materials may be extra should you wish to purchase these when here onsite

What to bring along etc: No previous skills required – welcome to bring own materials, wheels, spindles etc if you wish but not necessary – dress warm for a farm with sensible shoes - your own food provisions for each day

Maximum number we can accept / day: 6-9/day – spaces are limited and booked on a first come first served basis

How To Book:

Available to book the 4 day package - see 4 day options - Block 1 or Block 2

Available to book 1/2 day to suit your own schedule - see 1/2 day option

Available to book 1 day or multiples of 1 one to suit your own schedule - see 1 day option

Available to book Needle Felt Workshop - am or pm session Saturday 12th - see Felt workshop option

Available to book Tuffet Workshop - am or pm session - see Tuffet workshop option

Full list of workshops with dates and times - see timetable - contact us with your preferences thanks 

Accommodation can be also be pre-booked - please see www.fernhill-farm.co.uk for details of farm accommodation options

(please note - dates showing as booked online as all beds are now reserved for the wool school participants - even though we shall only have 10 spread out across the 30 bed options)

We have cosy accommodation here with 30 beds to choose from - these are mostly double bunk beds in shared rooms / glamping arcs

It’s highly likely you shall have your own space and toilet and shower in a big barn on a self catering basis with plenty of social spaces for everyone - please select Bunk Bed option at £42/n at checkout

Also as some have requested to BYO camper van, we have added this as an option too - please select Van option at £20/n/van at checkout

BOOK HERE

WOOL SCHOOL

Extra materials can be purchased on site - have a look what we have here www.fernhillfibre.co.uk/shop

For more details please email jen@fernhill-farm.co.uk

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Stitch Fest South West
Nov
6
to Nov 7

Stitch Fest South West

WELCOME TO STITCH FEST 2021

Stitch Fest launched in November 2016 in Totnes Civic Hall with a hugely successful festival that drew people from all over the UK. Its second, third and fourth years were even better with a fabulous new venue in the Grove School and more classes.

Stitch Fest 2020 would have been our fifth show and was expected to see another exciting growth step with the show moving to the fantastic venue at Newton Abbot Racecourse where it was to be all under one roof and as ever, showcasing some of the best independent makers, dyers, spinners and designers in the UK yarn industry along with fabulous workshop and demonstration timetables.

Sadly, due to COVID-19 it was not to be last year and so we are making plans for 2021. 

Come and join Fernhill Fibre for a fun weekend of workshops, talks and yarn-related happiness - and stock up on some really gorgeous yarns, fibre and accessories to take home!

​​ONLINE TICKET SALES WILL BE AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE IN JULY 2021

PLEASE JOIN THE MAILING LIST TO BE INFORMED WHEN THEY BECOME

AVAILABLE Join their mailing list here

The all-new Stitch Fest Zine!

New for 2021 is the fun and fabulous Stitch Fest Zine - an online newsletter to download and sent out via the Stitch Fest mailing list. It will consist of news, views, patterns, articles, new products, fun and games! 

​The first issue featuring Fernhill Fibre was sent out to the mailing list in April 2021 - Have a read here

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