A wool jumper knitted in 1986 is still in a wardrobe in Britain, doing fine. The vegan fleece bought in 2026 will be in a hole in the ground by 2031 and still there in 2226.
The wool jumper:
- Made of grass, rain and time.
- Its carbon came out of the sky last spring.
- Warms up as it gets wet.
- Takes a third of its weight in water before it admits it.
- Meets flame, chars, stops.
- Buried, gone inside a year.
- Sixteen per cent nitrogen. Feeds the field on the way out.
- £80 in 1985. Roughly £250 today. Bought once.
The vegan fleece:
- Made of crude oil, hexane and a very long boat.
- Its carbon came out of the ground in the Permian.
- Goes clammy at the first hint of rain.
- Holds nothing, and complains about it.
- Meets flame, liquefies, welds to skin.
- Buried, still there in two centuries.
- Sheds 700,000 fibres a wash. Feeds the fish.
- £40 in 2026. Bought ten times. £400.
Two of those columns describe an environmental catastrophe and it is not the one with a face.
Wool solved every problem the outdoor industry currently has a patent pending on. Waterproofing, warmth when soaked, fire performance, odour, biodegradability. It solved them before anyone thought to write them down, using weather, and it grows the whole apparatus back every spring at no charge to anybody.
Polyester solved one. Cost. It solved it by moving the bill onto the water table, where nobody has to look at it, and textiles are now Europe's fourth largest source of microplastic pollution.
The Marines banned polyester outside the wire in Iraq because it was welding itself into men's burns. Aircraft seat covers are 89 to 95 per cent wool because the cabin has to survive a vertical burn test. Every institution that has properly investigated what fire does to a human being has quietly gone back to the sheep.
The farmer who grew that fleece got about three pounds for it.
But yes. The sheep is the problem.
Standing in a field in mid-Wales, in the rain, growing next year's.
The sheep is the problem.
OUR FLOCKS
PASTURES OLD & NEW
Our breeding and expansion programme means new flocks on farms and crofts across Orkney
WELFARE OVER PRODUCTIVITY
Through a carefully managed breeding and expansion programme that has been in place since our original flock arrived here in 2013, Orkney Boreray numbers have grown steadily. We have laid plans for new flocks to be spread across the Orkney Isles in the months and years to come, all under the nurturing care of trusted crofters and farmers whose methods align with our own.
Our approach to flock management places welfare firmly over productivity, and breeding is designed to maximise genetic and phenotypic diversity among flocks — i.e. directly related sheep are not bred together. In 2017, a small breeding group from the original Settisgarth flock on the west mainland of Orkney was transferred to Lochend Farm on Shapinsay — the first major proliferation of this expansion project.
Burnside, Settisgarth
The original flock of Orkney Boreray — raised at Settisgarth on the west mainland. A breeding and expansion programme has been operating since 2013 to steadily grow numbers.
Lochend, Shapinsay
The first major expansion of the Orkney Boreray flock — a small breeding group transferred to Lochend Farm on Shapinsay, ready to grow and flourish.
Airy, Stronsay
The largest of the new flocks started in 2021. Airy has ten ewes and gimmers to be tupped by ram Grimbister for lambing in 2022, store wethers for mutton and a flock of ewe lambs for future expansion.
Dousquoy, Stronsay
The smallest of the new flocks started in 2021, where young ram Settisgarth Atlas has produced some lovely lambs from his three ewes, with a good percentage of twins. The owner of this flock, Nathan, is the craftsman who turns Boreray horns into beautiful and practical products. The red colour – raddle – on the ram shows when he has mated with a ewe.
Balaclava, Westray
In 2022 a flock of Orkney Boreray sheep from Lochend, Shapinsay, including ram Columba, joined the flock of Hebridean sheep at Balaclava. The Hebrideans are kept for training sheepdogs and the Borerays are learning to mix with the Hebrideans and respond appropriately to the sheepdogs.
Wester House, Birsay
In autumn 2022 a second flock was started on Orkney’s mainland, initially with ewe lambs, a ‘nanny’ ewe and a wether lamb as companion for their future ram. In July 2023 ram Lochend Carl-Henrick joined the flock, settling with his wether companion. They hope to have their first lambs in spring 2024.
Marianna’s flock at Burnside, a Flock within a Flock
Wanting to make sheep farming accessible to an urban dweller, in 2022 one of Burnside’s regular helpers started her own flock with her chosen ewe lamb Kornelie. This year she produced a beautiful fleece for Marianna to spin and weave. She and her future offspring will live with the Burnside flock, being managed with them as Marianna’s flock grows.
GOT SOME QUESTIONS?
If you're interested to know more about raising a flock of Orkney Boreray sheep, curious about opportunities to become a producer partner or simply curious about the sheep, their background and unique qualities — have a look at our Frequently Asked Questions below, or Contact Us for details.
Currently, Orkney Boreray mutton is available exclusively through Macbeth's butchers in Forres.
You'll find a selection of expertly woven Orkney Boreray wool items available through Orkney Cloth, with knitting yarn and wool goods also available from Jen-Ewe-Ine.
All Things Heathen are producing a range of bone and horn craft items from their Orkney workshop, and you'll be able to source sheepskin rugs from All Things Heathen and individual Orkney Boreray farms.
Orkney Boreray sheep are only available to crofters, farmers and smallholders within Orkney — but we are happy to work with those new to raising sheep, as well as experienced shepherds. The Orkney Boreray community will always be on hand to give practical advice and support to new and existing crofters. The right approach is absolutely essential, and information on the agricultural methodology for raising Orkney Boreray sheep can be found on the Agroecology page.
For more detailed information or for any specific queries, please Contact Us.
From the sheep, we can use meat, fleece, skins, horn and bone — all of which are of a high quality, with distinct traits and 'terroir'. If you are a restauranteur or chef and want to know more about purchasing OB carcasses, then please contact us for more information. Please note, that we currently operate on an exclusive basis with Macbeth's butchers in Forres.
Artisan craftspeople who are interested in fleece, skins, horn and bone are encouraged to Contact Us.
Currently it is only the Settisgarth flock at Burnside, in Orkney’s mainland, that can receive visitors. See this Visit Burnside page for more information, and with any further queries please Contact Us.