The Bowmont Project

By Lee Price

In 2001 Glasu, a rural development initiative providing assistance and support to businesses, farming families and community groups in Powys, Wales, carried out a study into wool and natural fibres in Powys and Wales, called the All Sheep project. As a result of this project, it was realised that fine wool production in Wales was a possible opportunity for farmers and smallholders to add value to their wool prices and their farm income. With Glasu's remit to add value to local products, a project was put together, to investigate the potential for fine wool production in Wales.

During the previous 10 years, a breed called the Bowmont was being developed for it's wool qualities at the Macaulay Institute in Scotland. The Bowmont is a Saxon Merino crossed with a Shetland, then with a Saxon Merino crossed back on it, making the Bowmont a three quarter Saxon Merino and a quarter Shetland.

In 2004, 35 Bowmont ewes and 2 rams made their way from Scotland to Pwllperian Farm in Mid-Wales, where they would spend their next 4 years.

Over the last three years the project has monitored the animals for husbandry issues and fibre quality. We hope that we now have an animal that can cope with the Welsh climate and that can produce high quality fibre.

The Yarn

The 2006 clip has been processed at Wool Count Ltd in Brecon into 4ply and DK weights. We have dyed the yarn into a range of colours and also have some natural yarn for the die hard dyer. The yarn is for sale in skeins of 50g or 200g and can be purchased by contacting Lee Price on 01982 55224 or email leepr@powys.gov.uk.

The project is still a "work in progress", so please keep your eyes peeled for new developments. The yarn has qualities that are hard to find in a local yarn, such as; softness, lightness and a bounce. Due to the small number of Bowmont sheep there is a limited amount of yarn available. Please contact us as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

For more information about Glasu and their work with the rural and farming communities in Powys, go to www.glasu.org.uk