Wrap up warm with guanaco
Peak District farmers Roy Critchlow and Karen Ballington are pleased to launch their limited edition handwoven guanaco pashmina shawls. The couple farm 50 guanaco on their traditional hill farm in the Staffordshire Moorlands, alongside the usual cows, sheep and pigs. The guanaco have been sheared for the first time this year to produce 80 handwoven guanaco pashminas. The fibre from guanaco is finer than cashmere and considered in the top 3 of luxury fibres from around the world. Roy Critchlow said 'the neighbours laugh at me for keeping weird and wonderful creatures, however the diminishing returns from hill farming make the production of this fibre a viable alternative. The fibre is in great demand from top designers in Italy and Japan '. The guanaco is an endangered species, the wild ancestor to the South American Llama. The animals are grazing on SSSI (Site of Specific Scientific Interest) at Heathylee House Farm in the Peak District as part of a grazing trial in conjunction with Natural England. The aim is to utilize their unique grazing pattern to create the perfect habitat for curlews and lapwings. The guanaco is also an excellent deterrent for predators of the nesting birds and chicks. Trevor Stables of Farrlacey Mill, where the pashminas are being handwoven said 'we are honoured to have the opportunity to work with such a world beating fibre. It is beautifully soft and we are sure the shawls will be in high demand'. For more information please contact k.ballington@yahoo.co.uk or see the website www.heathylee.co.uk THE END