News
Shows
These are the shows and events that I will be attending in 2022
24th and 25th September, Yarndale Skipton Auction Mart, Gargrave Road, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 1UD.
8th and 9th October, Bakewell Wool Gathering, Bakewell Agricultural Centre, Agricultural way, Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 1AH.
29th and 30th October, Kendal Wool Gathering, Town Hall, Highgate, Kendal, LA9 4DL
You can keep up to date with all the news from Hawkshaw Sheep HQ by following on social media, links at the top of the page, or by signing up to receive the Hawkshaw Sheep EWESletter, link at the bottom of the page.
Natural Coloured yarns
The yarns are created using the fleeces from my amazing sheep, mainly Shetlands, but I do keep a small number of other breeds alongside the Shetlands, so I can have some blended yarns made.
For instance if I mix Wensleydale with the Shetland it makes a less bouncy and more drapey yarn, adding some Cheviot to the Shetland makes a more robust yarn that wears well, the 100% Shetland yarn is incredibly soft and really versatile.
All the yarns are created in small batches and are unique, each batch with its own character.
Head over to the shop to see what wonderful yarns are available at the moment.
Farming Sustainably
Climate change, rewilding, carbon neutral and nature friendly are the buzz words of the moment. People are increasingly becoming more aware of the damage we humans are causing to the planet.
Here at Hawkshaw Sheep HQ, looking after the sheep is done as sustainably as possible, the numbers of sheep kept on the farm are at a much lower number than the land could support, to allow wildlife and vegetation space to thrive, the sheep themselves are free to roam and behave in a manner they would if they were in the wild without any human intervention, other than when they are gathered in from the hill for lambing, clipping etc. On the lush green lowland pastures it is how many sheep per acre, on hill land it is how many acres per sheep.
There isn't any land on the farm that could produce hay or silage to feed to the sheep to sustain them through the winter months, so the flock are being bred to be as self sufficient as possible, to survive and produce lambs from what they can forage from the land.
To find out in more detail how the sheep are managed, go to the Shepherds year page.