If you like to wear wool, one of the most sustainable of fabrics, do you ever wonder why it is so expensive?

Well, I have more questions than answers… Many farmers are just burning fleeces or giving them away to gardeners because the British Wool Board who buys them pay so little.

A fleece shorn from a lowland sheep will weigh approximately 2kg and the average price paid to the farmer is 20p per kg. The cost of shearing a sheep is approximately £2.15 but that is just the end cost.

Prior to shearing the sheep have to be checked daily and treated for fly trike to ensure the fleeces are in good order and saleable – the total cost of which comes to about £4.20 including labour. So, the cost to the farmer is £6.35 and all he receives for the fleece is 40p!

Questions – for the British Wool Board

1, Why are you robbing the farmers?

2,  Why are you not marketing British Wool – TV advertising – product promotion?

3, Insulation is a big issue – why are you not promoting wool as a natural insulation        material?

The British Wool Marketing Board states on their web site …

“Our purpose is to champion British wool and the farmers who produce this amazing, natural fibre, whilst promoting every aspect of wool production and usage.”

I can see no evidence of any of that being true.

Pat Bryant

UK Independence Party Spokesman for Food and Rural Affairs