BOWMONT UPDATE | SPRING 2019

 Our suppliers make for some of the most important relationships we have. These are paramount to ensuring we make the best product possible and continue to adhere to our three points of commitment; product, environment and people.

Visits to factories and farm are part of our yearly operations, and all part of how we deliver on the above. One of the most anticipated dates in the design teams calendar is the pilgrimage to the Bowmont farm; lambing season this year was no different. The below email came from Merino farmer, Lesley Prior ahead of our arrival and was circulated around the internal mail at the workshop. Consider yourselves 'copied in' and stay tuned for more as we follow the flock in 2019.

Hi All,

Winter is officially over and we’re inching towards Spring so lambing is nearly here! We sheared our expectant mums a few weeks ago so they are ready and we can see clearly what is going on. The rest will be shorn in early May.

The first lambs are due around 17th March (note: email correspondence 20th Feb - first lamb came morning 17th March - as promised) – more Australian embryos so we’re super excited. Their mums and dads are still in Australia. We have 3 separate batches this year – the first in March and then another batch in mid -late June and another in July/August. We shall be very busy!

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We were on BBC Countryfile on 24th February (available on BBC iPlayer – around 34 minutes in). The Adam Henson slot. It was filmed over 2 days just before we sheared the pregnant ewes. Gary, our shearer did a couple of rams for them and then came back to shear the ewes the following day when I could concentrate on the wool and the sheep much more easily. I couldn’t let filming get in the way of good sheep care. The BBC gang seemed pleased with it. Adam couldn’t get over the whiteness and quality of the wool. He had never seen anything like it even though he kept Merinos on his farm a few years ago. We talked about quality and about how Merino varied enormously and how you have to have a great deal of specialist knowledge to grow it well in the UK. He wanted some of my sheep!

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We are off to Australia again in early May to attend some conferences, some training sessions and to source new genetics. I’ve bought my own ram in Australia recently as well. He is donating semen for us shortly and that will be used for next year’s lambs.  See photo attached. He’s a handsome fellow. Prince by name.  He comes from a very good stud in Victoria and fits our breeding objectives well.

Looking forward to seeing the gang when you visit!

Hugs to you all,

L x

 

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY YEHYA AL-HAFIDH