Meet the Sheep Behind the Wool: Digging In With Wool Pots at the New Forest Show
Meet the Sheep Behind the Wool: Digging In With Wool Pots at the New Forest Show
In Episode 6 of Digging In With Wool Pots, Graham heads into the sheep pens at the New Forest Show to meet Kate from Snowdrop Flock - and unexpectedly finds himself entering the show ring.
Wool is at the heart of everything we do at Wool Pots. But before it becomes a natural, biodegradable plant pot, it begins with sheep, farmers and the people who care for their flocks in every kind of British weather.
That is why, for Episode 6 of Digging In With Wool Pots, Graham visited the New Forest Show to speak with sheep expert Kate from Snowdrop Flock.
What followed included six show sheep, some brilliantly memorable names, a remarkable lambing story - and Graham being handed a coat and a sheep almost as soon as he arrived.
Meet Kate and the Snowdrop Flock
Kate brought six sheep to the New Forest Show, including Leicester, Hampshire Down, Southdown and Herdwick sheep.
They were just a small selection from a flock of 72 sheep representing four breeds.
Among the sheep Graham met were Hannah the Herdwick and her mother Hilda, Rosina, Clematis the Southdown, Rhubarb, Raspberry and one particularly special sheep called Jingle.
The sheep are often named after their individual characteristics or the circumstances surrounding their birth. In Jingle’s case, the story behind the name is one Kate is unlikely to forget.
Jingle’s Dramatic Arrival
Jingle was born around New Year, which inspired her festive name. However, there was nothing calm or cosy about her arrival.
She was born on the side of a hill while a gale was blowing and the rain was pouring down. Kate had to catch the ewe and deliver the lamb there on the hillside, in the middle of the storm.
It is a wonderful story, but it also reveals something important about sheep farming: caring for a flock is not a fair-weather occupation.
Farmers and shepherds must be there when their animals need them, whether that means working in summer sunshine or heading outside on a freezing, wet winter morning.
The Best - and Hardest - Parts of Keeping Sheep
When Graham asked Kate about her favourite part of keeping sheep, her answer was not the competitions, the rosettes or even the sheep themselves.
It was the people.
Kate described a community in which people help one another and share their knowledge. It is an atmosphere that feels, in her words, a little like “old-school times”, when neighbours and friends naturally stepped in to support each other.
The more difficult side of the job arrives during cold and wet winter mornings.
Frozen drinking troughs must be broken open. Sheep still need to be checked and cared for. Lambing cannot be postponed because the weather is unpleasant.
Preparing sheep for the show ring also takes considerable time, patience and training—especially when one of the sheep has a particularly independent personality.
Graham Enters the Sheep Show
Graham did not have very long to watch from the sidelines.
Within minutes of arriving, he was handed a show coat, given a sheep and sent into the ring for his first experience of sheep showing.
To make things more interesting, he was not paired with the easiest sheep in the flock.
Kate described her as “quite quirky”, although she was impressed by how Graham handled the challenge after being dropped so thoroughly into the deep end.
We are pleased to report that both Graham and the sheep completed the experience successfully.
Why Wool and British Farming Matter to Wool Pots
Meeting Kate and her flock brings us back to one of the reasons Wool Pots were created.
Wool is an extraordinary natural material, but much of the wool produced by farmers has very little commercial value. Wool Pots help create a practical new use for wool while giving gardeners an alternative to conventional plastic plant pots.
Instead of treating wool as an unwanted by-product, we can use its natural properties to support plants.
Wool Pots are:
- Made using natural wool
- Biodegradable and plastic-free
- Able to retain moisture around plant roots
- Naturally insulating against changes in temperature
- Suitable for planting directly into the soil
- Designed to reduce root disturbance when plants are moved
- Supplied with minimal packaging
It is a simple idea that connects farming and gardening: use a renewable natural material to grow healthier plants while reducing reliance on disposable plastic.
How Do You Use Wool Pots?
Wool Pots can be used for seeds, cuttings, herbs, flowers, vegetables and young plants.
Simply:
- Fill the Wool Pot with your chosen peat-free compost.
- Sow your seed or add your cutting or young plant.
- Water the compost and allow the plant to establish.
- When the plant is ready, plant the entire Wool Pot directly into the garden, raised bed or a larger container.
- Leave a small amount of the wool rim visible above the soil to make the most of wool’s naturally fibrous texture around slugs and snails.
Because the whole pot is planted, there is no need to pull the plant from a rigid plastic container and disturb its developing roots.
The wool then naturally breaks down in the soil, returning organic material to the ground.
From the Sheep Pen to Your Garden
The New Forest Show celebrates the animals, agricultural skills and rural communities behind British farming.
For us, it was also an opportunity to meet some of the sheep behind this remarkable natural material - and to recognise the commitment of people such as Kate, who care for them throughout the year.
Episode 6 offers a warm, funny and honest glimpse into that world. Watch the video to meet Kate, Jingle and the rest of the Snowdrop Flock - and to see how Graham got on during his unexpected first appearance in the show ring.
Ready to Try a More Natural Way to Grow?
Replace disposable plastic pots with a natural alternative designed to support both plants and the planet.
Grow your seeds and young plants in wool, plant the entire pot into the ground and let nature take care of the rest.
Not bad for a plant pot.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Wool Pots made from?
Wool Pots are made from natural wool, creating a useful gardening product from a material that can otherwise have very little commercial value.
Are Wool Pots biodegradable?
Yes. Wool is a natural, biodegradable material. Once planted in the ground, the pot gradually breaks down and returns organic material to the soil.
Can Wool Pots be planted directly into the garden?
Yes. The entire pot can be placed directly into the garden, a raised bed or a larger container. This helps reduce disturbance to the plant’s roots.
What can I grow in Wool Pots?
Wool Pots can be used for a wide range of seeds, cuttings and young plants, including vegetables, herbs, flowers and bedding plants.
Do Wool Pots help retain moisture?
Wool naturally absorbs and holds moisture, helping to maintain a supportive growing environment around developing roots.
Why choose wool instead of plastic plant pots?
Wool Pots provide a biodegradable, plastic-free option that can be planted directly into the soil. They also create a useful purpose for natural wool while reducing the number of disposable plastic pots used in gardening.
