We'd like to tell you something about the wool mill at Launceston in Cornwall. It is run by the Natural Fibre Company and specialises in adding value to fleece supplied by farmers and turning it into high-quality knitting yarn which they can sell for themselves and generate a new or growing source of income from their flock.

Although we have been spinning wool at The Natural Fibre Company since 1991, the services we offer have changed dramatically since 2005 when managing director Sue Blacker and her family bought the company from its previous owners.

When she moved the company from Lampeter in Wales to a new home in Cornwall at Launceston on the Devon border, it signalled the start of a minor revolution. She also wasn't able to spend as much time with her flock of Gotlands one of whom, Harry, is shown with her on the left.

In 2007 we introduced worsted spinning, and in the summer of 2008 added an on-line shop and a dye plant. As well as matching specialist colours supplied by customers, the dye plant also produces its own range of yarns in a range of colours carefully created to tone with natural fibre colours.

The last thing we'd like to tell you about the wool mill is that it was all made possible by European Union Objective 1 funding, the fund managers Finance Cornwall and a number of private, outside investors.