Better clearances at British Wool auctions at the tail end of the year saw clearance levels rise again following a drop off earlier in the season and the hope is this increased demand can be maintained throughout 2013,BWMB's Producer Communications Manager Gareth Jones will tell farmers attending this month's NSA Central Region Winter Fair at Bakewell on 24 January.
Mr Jones will present a seminar at the event entitled'Your Wool Board:Working for you'.
"Farmers may not always appreciate the work BWMB does throughout the supply chain,but it's the organisation's complete chain involvement which places BWMB in a unique position to be able to help the UK sheep industry extract maximum value from its wool,"said Mr Jones.
"The BWMB is a farmer run organization operating for the benefit of all UK wool producers-no matter how much wool,the type or quality of wool or how remote a location that wool is being produced,the BWMB is there to provide a service to all producers"
Colin MacGregor,BWMB Shearing Training Manager will also be in attendance at the event.Mr MacGregor said"The BWMB continues to be active in training the next generation of British Shearers with more than 1,100 shearers attending BWMB shearing courses in 2012.The quantity and quality of our young shearers is a great legacy for the Board.Training new shearers are one of the most important things the Board does for the industry".
The BWMB stand at the event,being staged at Bakewell Market,Derbyshire,will also highlight the work being done by BWMB to expand the market for British Wool,explained Mr Jones.One key element of this ongoing promotional work is BWMB's involvement in the Campaign for Wool which will also be highlighted on the stand as part of the organization's promotional activities.
As well as the seminar and having its own stand the BWMB will be also involved with the NSA's Schools Wool Challenge.This is a novel competition in which participating schools have been invited to produce an artwork,display or garment made entirely of wool.
"Participating schools have a free hand on what type or wool or wool product to use and also on what their entry will be.It may be a picture,a collage,a model,a garment or possibly even something larger.
"Natural wool,spun wool,felted wool or even used wool from old woolen products can be used as materials for this competition.A number of BWMB licensees have provided large quantities of surplus materials to assist the schools with resource materials,for which both the BWMB and NSA are extremely grateful."
The Schools Wool Challenge is part of the ongoing activity to help consumers of all ages understand the many properties and benefits of wool as a fashion and interior design fabric,adds Mr Jones.
"Wool is one of the most versatile and adaptable fibres in the world and is completely sustainable.We hope that the Schools Wool Challenge will help those participating gain a greater appreciation of wool as a fibre and use more wool in their daily lives."
