It has been a busy few months at J&S and we are very excited to have played a small part in the initial organisation of the North Atlantic Native Sheep and Wool Conference 2013 which is coming to Shetland in October. Following on from the previous two conferences in Orkney (2011) and Bergen (2012) it is a must-see for anyone interested in Shetland Sheep and their cousins around the North Atlantic.
It begins on the Friday of Shetland Wool Week – 11th October – and continues until the following Tuesday 15th October. The programme is packed with activities including: a look around Shetland Agricultural Centre, with wool grading and sorting, a visit to the abattoir and sheep and wool sales; a day trip up to Yell and Unst visiting Hermaness National Nature Reserve to discuss common grazings there, spinning and knitting demonstrations and talks on the use of wool in local arts and crafts; talks from experts on subjects ranging from the genetics of North Atlantic Native Sheep to their importance for the local economies of their places of origin; and a large conference dinner featuring Shetland’s famous local produce and music. Not only will visiting delegates gain a valuable insight into North Atlantic Native Sheep and sheep farming in the region, but they will also get to experience a range of Shetland’s landscapes, being immersed in its culture during their trip.
For anyone who wishes to attend the conference, or if you are just interested to know more, you can have a look at the programme (which was created right here at J&S!) below. Note – if you want to print it off, the second link should work better for most systems.
North Atlantic Native Sheep and Wool Conference 2013
North Atlantic Native Sheep and Wool Conference 2013 – printable
If you want to know more contact conference organisers:
Emma Miller:
emma@shetlandamenity.org, +44 (0)1595 69468
or Pete Glanville:
pete.glanville@shetlandorganics.com
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