Spring 2008 Spring 2008 Update
  • PLEASE, Please, please invest in Bluetonge vaccine - unless we ALL do so there is a very considerable risk to all UK livestock - please see the DEFRA and EU websites also.
  • Our Spring 2008 Newsletter is available by post - just ask us for a copy!
  • As long as Bluetongue is around, along with FMD, please think carefully before moving, buying or selling animals - will there be enough isolation storage for a week? And will you be able to move animals immediately if the various zones are not compatible - it may require the seller to hold the animals longer before transport
  • We had intended to hold our prices for the whole year, but operating costs have risen rapidly so this is no longer possible - we will issue new prices from July, but you may find that volume and loyalty discounts and also a phased implementation of the increases will help make this manageable
12th August 2007 Foot and Mouth Update
On investigating more persistently, we discover that not only are all the Wool Board depots functioning normally, but we can do so too! The only restriction is on fleeces shorn less than 21 days before the first outbreak within the Exclusion and Protected Zones.

So as soon as we return from our holidays on 20th August, we will arrange all outstanding collections and carry on as normal.

This does not stop us from wanting to encourage everyone to continue to ask for and buy local farm produce as much as possible!
5th August 2007 Foot and Mouth Disease, August, 2007
Our hearts go out to everyone affected by this and we will do all we can to help:
  • We would like to encourage everyone to buy local farm produce as much as possible - farmers really need our support, particularly as a part of the control measures is always enforced isolation. Buying their goods, talking with them, supporting them are all good things and really needed.
  • We do have a certain amount of fleece in stock and can make additional yarns to help people who might not have been able to arrange shearing due to the poor summer weather - it won't be from your flock but it can be of the same breed and could help provide some income. Please contact us if this is of interest.
  • We are contacting anyone we know with any influence to encourage them also to advocate buying local farm produce.
During the last outbreak, fleece could still be collected from the farm gate except in restricted zones but at present all animial arisings, including fleeces, must stay on the holding so we cannot arrange collections or receive deliveries of fleece for the time being. We understand that this may be relaxed and is under constant review. We are still sending out sacks so that you can be ready to send fleece when the restrictions are lifted. We have two weeks of mill holidays at present, until 20th August, but you can still reach Sue by phone and sometimes at the office. Please use her personal email: sueblacker@waitrose.com to get in touch urgently as it will be monitored continuously. The office phones will be diverted to her mobile after 8th August.

Please note that if you have a rare sheep or goat breed you can voluntarily register it, provided you have at least 16 females and 1 male (sheep) or 6 females and 1 male (goats), and this may afford some protection from culling. Go to http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/fmd/about/riskreg.htm and you can complete the form electronically. Thanks to Juliet Johnson for pointing this out.

Eligibility criteria:
  • The breed must be listed as being rare in the UK country report.
  • The breed must be native to the UK
  • The animals must be registered with a recognised breed society
  • The premises must have a breeding nucleus equal to or exceeding the minimum numbers/population above
DEFRA's latest release says that the strain of virus found is unusual and may be from a vaccine made at a facility near to the outbreak, which we think might mean that it has not been spread by animals, so perhaps the outbreak will be very limited - let's hope so!
July 2007 - worsted and semi worsted spinning now fully operational as of July, 2007: please contact us to discuss your requirements

- organic run now in progress in mid July, 2007 - the next run will be in the autumn of 2007, probably October or November

- mohair next run is planned for October, 2007

- share scheme fleece is now accepted continuously and we have an attractive range of yarns and throws available, and are about to order several variations of scarves for the Christmas season: contact us for more information or to place an order

- Autumn, 2007 Newsletter now in preparation: please send us customer case histories, ideas, articles, etc.
June 2006 Payment by Paypal available, also internet banking ? contact us for information
May 2006 First mohair and alpaca production runs
January 2006 First organic production runs
30 November 2005 First commissioning runs for scouring and blending
14 November 2005 Formal takeover of the Natural Fibre Company completed
September 2005 The machinery arrives and assembly starts in Launceston
August 2005 Objective 1 funding and bank finance agreed; lease taken on factory
May 2005 Business plan and funding application submitted to Objective 1
January 2005 Market research questionnaire to find out what customers wanted
November 2004 Visits Yorkshire to look at the textile industry and see what additional equipment might be available
October 2004 Sue Blacker visits Lampeter to look at the NFC