BLACKFACE WOOL is under-valued and under-used – but a new project is seeking to push this natural homegrown commodity back to the fore.

Last year, the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere launched 'The Wool Gathering', an initiative to promote the versatility of local wool and its potential as a sustainable resource. Six months on, the project has won funding from the Blackface Breeders’ Association.

The Biosphere was designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation back in 2012 and covers more than 5200km² of the south-west region, including vast landscapes of hill grazing where Blackface sheep are the dominant breed.

The UNESCO designation is intended to promote sustainability in enterprise alongside environmental education and research, and to test solutions to some of the most critical challenges of our time. With the funding from the breeders’ association, British Wool is helping the project source 1000kg of the finest grade Blackface wool produced within the Biosphere region, and following scouring the next stage will be creation and testing of prototype items of outerwear and a thorough exploration of potential markets.

Read more: Dedication to the Blackface breed for Matthew Hamilton, Woolfords, pays off

Biosphere board chair, Melanie Allen, said: "This is an extremely exciting initiative for us, as it encompasses what is truly special about the remit of a UNESCO Biosphere. The Wool Gathering brings together innovation through partnership-working, combining creativity with enterprise to develop our circular economy. We are delighted that the Blackface Sheep Breeders’ Association will be part of that journey and we very much value their expertise and support."

BSBA president Alec Telfer said: “For far too long wool has become an expensive by-product of sheep farming. What used to be a most valuable commodity, has completely fallen off the radar. In these increasingly environmentally aware times, the importance of wool as an entirely sustainable, natural and biodegradable product cannot be over emphasised.

"This exciting project, where the aim is to produce high end garments entirely and exclusively from the very best quality Blackface wool is what has been needed for a very long time. We will be in constant dialogue with the project team in taking this well researched and thought through initiative forward. Great oaks from little acorns grow,” he added.