Why we support British farmers by buying 100% British wool for our products

Our thousands of happy customers know that we are committed to responsible sourcing when it comes to our wool bedding products. Some of our customers ask how we ensure that our wool comes from farms where the highest animal welfare standards are followed.

The answer is that 100% of the wool we use is British wool and British sheep are some of the best cared for sheep in the world. In the UK, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is the government department responsible for many standards to do with environmental protection, food production and animal welfare. They exercise very strict controls over farmers and often visit unannounced to inspect animals in their care. Any farmer not considered to be upholding these standards would be banned from keeping sheep.

Additionally, in Britain, the practice of ‘mulesing’ is a banned and illegal practice, whereas in many countries this is normal. By purchasing British wool, we are not only supporting British farmers, which is very important to us, but we also have the assurance that the sheep have not had to undergo this unnecessary and often painful practice. 

British Wool is the organisation that works with British farmers, setting the standards for wool quality through their comprehensive grading system. They are also the approved provider for shearing and wool handling training in the UK, with a programme of courses that are recognised across the world and which are led by a team of registered, highly experienced instructors. At Devon Duvets, we only ever accept wool from live sheep that have been shorn in the Spring or Summer, when the sheep naturally need to lose their heavy fleeces.

So, by purchasing one of our products made from 100% British wool that has been certified by the British Wool organisation, you can be confident that you are buying a high-quality product that comes from an animal that has been ethically treated. Not only that, but our wool is cleaned (known as ‘scouring’) in British mills, without the use of chemicals or bleaches and then needled to create plenty of ‘loft’ to provide super soft layers. These soft layers are then encased in luxurious 260 thread county 100% natural cotton by our expert seamstresses at our Devon workshops. 

For more information about our certified 100% British wool products, click here.