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New use for fleece

Lorna Sherry reports on a Welsh initiative to use unwanted fleece as an insulation material.

Written by Lorna Sherry
Thursday, 18 September 2008

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Local people were concerned to see fleece being burned in a field in High Glencloy this summer, but understood the farmer's explanation that demand was so low that the fleece would cost more to handle than it could be worth.

An interesting side-light on this problem comes from the National Trust in Wales, who are using wool as an innovative form of insulation for some of its north Wales properties. Welsh sheep often have dark fleeces which cannot be dyed in bright colours for the clothing market, and as on Arran, these are not worth the cost of shearing. However, the use of wool as an insulation material is quickly catching on. Wool requires less water and energy than the production of fibreglass, and using local fleeces also cuts down on transport costs. Though the initial outlay to householders is more expensive, the efficiency of the green option is increasingly popular, and farmers are becoming keen to join the scheme. The Wool Marketing Board remains unimpressed and continues to to promote the manufacture of high class woollen fabric for clothing and export, but there are now several companies offering Sheep Wool Insulation, and the Centre for Alternative Technology (also in Wales) has a comprehensive PDF document accessible to those with computers.

This is just one way to use worthless fleece — but on Arran, there are countless spinners and knitters who would probably welcome such a supply of material. When we get round to next year's shearing time, perhaps farmers with a disposal problem might put a wee note in The Voice to say that fleece is available to anyone who can use it. Surely that would be better than throwing it on a bonfire?

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