{"id":3704,"date":"2024-11-04T18:41:33","date_gmt":"2024-11-04T17:41:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/merrybower.co.uk\/?page_id=3704"},"modified":"2024-11-04T20:28:25","modified_gmt":"2024-11-04T19:28:25","slug":"shropshire-sheep-wool","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/merrybower.co.uk\/?page_id=3704","title":{"rendered":"Shropshire Sheep Wool"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id='full_slider_1'  class='avia-fullwidth-slider main_color avia-shadow   avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_section  avia-builder-el-first   container_wrap sidebar_right' style=' '  ><div   data-size='featured_large'  data-lightbox_size='large'  data-animation='slide'  data-conditional_play=''  data-ids='3711'  data-video_counter='0'  data-autoplay='false'  data-bg_slider='false'  data-slide_height=''  data-handle='av_slideshow_full'  data-interval='5'  data-class=' '  data-el_id=''  data-css_id=''  data-scroll_down=''  data-control_layout='av-control-default'  data-custom_markup=''  data-perma_caption=''  data-autoplay_stopper=''  data-image_attachment=''  data-min_height='0px'  data-src=''  data-position='top left'  data-repeat='no-repeat'  data-attach='scroll'  data-stretch=''  data-default-height='42'  class='avia-slideshow avia-slideshow-1  av-control-default av-default-height-applied avia-slideshow-featured_large av_slideshow_full   avia-slide-slider '  itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><ul class='avia-slideshow-inner ' style='padding-bottom: 49.21875%;' ><li  class=' av-single-slide slide-1 ' ><div data-rel='slideshow-1' class='avia-slide-wrap '   ><img src='https:\/\/merrybower.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024-11-04-Wool_Processing.jpg' width='1280' height='630' title='Wool Processing' alt='Wool Processing'  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\"   \/><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n<div id='av_section_1'  class='avia-section alternate_color avia-section-default avia-no-border-styling  avia-bg-style-scroll  avia-builder-el-1  el_after_av_slideshow_full  avia-builder-el-last   container_wrap sidebar_right' style=' '  ><div class='container' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-small alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-3704'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n<div class=\"flex_column av_one_half  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding first  avia-builder-el-2  el_before_av_one_half  avia-builder-el-first  \" style='border-radius:0px; '><section class=\"av_textblock_section \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock  '   itemprop=\"text\" ><h3>The Flock<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n<section class=\"av_textblock_section \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock  '   itemprop=\"text\" ><p>From the time we planted our orchard tree whips, the idea of a low-carbon way to maintain the grass was always in the back of our minds.<\/p>\n<p>The first attempt was to use Pilgrim Geese. However, we found the mess they made, together with the worries around continual avian flu lockdowns, meant the flock was never expanded past the current four we have.<\/p>\n<p>Finally we settled on two Shropshire wethers, Dougal and Dylan. They do a fine job of keeping the grass short and healthy, and clear up many of the windfalls during autumn. They also add nutrients back into the ground as they bimble along.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n<div  style='height:20px' class='hr hr-invisible   avia-builder-el-5  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_textblock '><span class='hr-inner ' ><span class='hr-inner-style'><\/span><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n<section class=\"av_textblock_section \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock  '   itemprop=\"text\" ><h3>Why Shropshire Sheep?<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n<section class=\"av_textblock_section \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock  '   itemprop=\"text\" ><p>Shropshire sheep are a medium sized breed, being farely easy to manoeuvre, if ever a sheep is easy to manoeuvre! The rams typically weigh around 120 kg, and Dougal is most definitely that and possibly more. They are hornless, which is not only safer, but helps them become less entangled in fencing than other breeds &#8211; though they will still try and prove that theory wrong if the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence.<\/p>\n<p>They are the perfect sheep for orchard work, to which we can whole-heartedly testify. They do not rear up on their hind legs to reach fruit, but will take lower hanging fruit and leaves. Most importantly, they do not tend to eat the bark of trees, which has made them very popular in vineyards and Christmas tree plantations around the world. They are docile, friendly, and will follow you for miles for a handful of treats!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n<div  style='height:20px' class='hr hr-invisible   avia-builder-el-8  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_textblock '><span class='hr-inner ' ><span class='hr-inner-style'><\/span><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n<section class=\"av_textblock_section \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock  '   itemprop=\"text\" ><h3>The Wool<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n<section class=\"av_textblock_section \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock  '   itemprop=\"text\" ><p>The wool is classed as Shortwool and Down, and is typically 10-15 cm long with a micron range of 24.5 &#8211; 33. It is classified as fine by the British Wool Marketing Board, and is a typical downland wool &#8211; springy, resilient and lacking the sheen of lustre wools. It has enough crimp to make the fleece elastic and easy to spin, giving a bouncy, light, airy, hard-wearing yarn. It also takes dye well, though we haven&#8217;t tried that yet.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n<div  style='height:20px' class='hr hr-invisible   avia-builder-el-11  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_textblock '><span class='hr-inner ' ><span class='hr-inner-style'><\/span><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n<section class=\"av_textblock_section \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock  '   itemprop=\"text\" ><h3>The Wool Processing<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n<section class=\"av_textblock_section \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock  '   itemprop=\"text\" ><p>After shearing, the fleece are hand-picked to remove grass and straw, then skirted to remove the muddy lower edges. They are then taken to Shire Mill, a local wool mill, where they are processed into the weight we specify.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/p><\/div><div class=\"flex_column av_one_half  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding   avia-builder-el-14  el_after_av_one_half  el_before_av_hr  \" style='border-radius:0px; '><p><div  class='avia-image-container  av-styling-    avia-builder-el-15  el_before_av_hr  avia-builder-el-first  avia-align-center '  itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"  ><div class='avia-image-container-inner'><div class='avia-image-overlay-wrap'><img class='avia_image' src='https:\/\/merrybower.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2024-11-04-Wool_Skeins-1030x773.jpg' alt='Wool Skeins' title='Wool Skeins' height=\"773\" width=\"1030\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\"  \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<div  style='height:20px' class='hr hr-invisible   avia-builder-el-16  el_after_av_image  el_before_av_hr '><span class='hr-inner ' ><span class='hr-inner-style'><\/span><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n<div  style='height:20px' class='hr hr-invisible   avia-builder-el-17  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_textblock '><span class='hr-inner ' ><span class='hr-inner-style'><\/span><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n<section class=\"av_textblock_section \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock  '   itemprop=\"text\" ><h3>Availability<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n<section class=\"av_textblock_section \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock  '   itemprop=\"text\" ><p>We only have two sheep, Dylan and Dougal, who are our resident lawn mowers. For this reason, we have a limited supply of their woolly goodness, but do please get in touch to find out the availablity.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3    avia-builder-el-20  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_heading  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Cost: \u00a316.70 \/ 100g DK skein<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3    avia-builder-el-21  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_hr  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Interested? Call us on 07941 905796<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<div  style='height:20px' class='hr hr-invisible   avia-builder-el-22  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_button_big  avia-builder-el-last '><span class='hr-inner ' ><span class='hr-inner-style'><\/span><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n<div  class='avia-button-wrap avia-button-center  avia-builder-el-23  el_after_av_hr  avia-builder-el-last ' ><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shiremill.co.uk\/\" class=\"avia-button avia-button-fullwidth   avia-icon_select-no avia-color-green \" target=\"_blank\" style=\"color:#ffffff; \" rel=\"noopener\"><span class='avia_iconbox_title' >Learn more about Shire Mill Wool Processing<\/span><span class='avia_button_background avia-button avia-button-fullwidth avia-color-theme-color-highlight' ><\/span><\/a><\/div><\/p><\/div><div   class='hr hr-default   avia-builder-el-24  el_after_av_one_half  avia-builder-el-last '><span class='hr-inner ' ><span class='hr-inner-style'><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- close content main div --><\/div><\/div><div id='after_section_1'  class='main_color av_default_container_wrap container_wrap sidebar_right' style=' '  ><div class='container' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-small alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-3704'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_jetpack_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3704","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.8 - 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