Farming Today

28/12/2022 Commercial wool


Listen Later

For most sheep farmers, wool doesn’t pay. Shepherds often shear their sheep for the animals’ welfare, but don’t make any money from the wool. More often than not, it actually costs them money. However, one couple in Somerset are reviving the textile tradition and making it pay. Andy Wear and Jennifer Hunter from Fernhill Farm have three thousand sheep. They graze the flock on a network of farms across the Mendips, following regenerative principles - boosting soil health by rotating the grazing, and cutting out herbicides and fertilisers. Jen is a Nuffield Scholar, she travelled the world researching sustainable wool production. The textiles business began as a means of earning money in winter, when the farm wasn’t making money from its holiday lets and events business. With selective breeding and marketing, wool now accounts for 40% of the income from their flock. Andy is a record-breaking shearer and he’s created a shearing barn where he runs courses. His purpose-built shearing stand, inspired by systems in New Zealand and Australia, doubles up as a stand for bands and festivals in the summer.
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Farming TodayBy BBC Radio 4

  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5

4.5

54 ratings


More shows like Farming Today

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,907 Listeners

The Archers by BBC Radio 4

The Archers

1,085 Listeners

From Our Own Correspondent by BBC Radio 4

From Our Own Correspondent

377 Listeners

More or Less by BBC Radio 4

More or Less

855 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,072 Listeners

Wake Up to Money by BBC Radio 5 Live

Wake Up to Money

52 Listeners

Money Box by BBC Radio 4

Money Box

44 Listeners

The Martin Lewis Podcast by BBC Radio 5 Live

The Martin Lewis Podcast

77 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,577 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,807 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,752 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,026 Listeners

Last Word by BBC Radio 4

Last Word

47 Listeners

Gardeners' Question Time by BBC Radio 4

Gardeners' Question Time

283 Listeners

The Food Programme by BBC Radio 4

The Food Programme

261 Listeners

Scotland Outdoors by BBC Radio Scotland

Scotland Outdoors

255 Listeners

Ramblings by BBC Radio 4

Ramblings

157 Listeners

The Bottom Line by BBC Radio 4

The Bottom Line

39 Listeners

The Plodcast by Our Media

The Plodcast

109 Listeners

Gardening with the RHS by Royal Horticultural Society

Gardening with the RHS

273 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,234 Listeners

The Missing Cryptoqueen by BBC Sounds

The Missing Cryptoqueen

1,029 Listeners

Americast by BBC News

Americast

791 Listeners

The Farmers Weekly Podcast by Farmers Weekly

The Farmers Weekly Podcast

12 Listeners

The Bomb by BBC World Service

The Bomb

1,010 Listeners