For this week’s guest blog we talk to our friends at Thermafleece – a natural fibre company based in the Lake District which supplies sheep’s wool insulation to keep our shepherd’s huts warm and toasty even on the coldest days…
Plankbridge shepherd’s huts are renowned for their cosiness. Can you tell us a little about the sheep’s wool insulation you supply to us and how it is made?
Wool is a cosy fibre and brings to mind comfort and warmth, so it is perfect to use for insulating shepherd’s huts. We make Thermafleece from the coarse wool of hardy British hill sheep. The wool is unsuitable for carpets and clothing, but its bulkiness makes it perfect for our insulation. All our wool is purchased from British Wool and we manufacture here in the UK – collected, graded, cleaned and treated then sent on to our production plant a couple of miles away to be made into Thermafleece.
Can you talk us through the benefits?
Thermafleece is a natural, breathable, durable and sustainable insulation that helps regulate building temperature in cold and hot weather. Wool’s exceptional breathability allows it to absorb up to 30% of its weight in moisture while staying dry to the touch. This feature makes Thermafleece an excellent moisture buffer, balancing its moisture content with the surrounding humidity by absorbing moisture when humidity is high and releasing it when humidity is low. This reduces mould and damp within the building which in turn makes for a healthier living environment.
Has the growth in wool insulation had a positive impact for farmers?
Thermafleece is without doubt adding value to the rural economy. Any use of wool which lifts the profile and awareness of the incredible properties of this natural fibre is of benefit to the farmers. There are 14 million sheep in the UK producing 23 million kg of wool, about 5 million kg of which is suitable for insulation. Thanks to the success of Thermafleece we are making a big dent in the available wool, but we have a way to go before we can maximise the potential of British wool.
How does it compare, would you say, with other types of insulation, such as mineral wool and foam?
Like mineral wool and foam insulation, Thermafleece prevents heat loss which in turn reduces the amount of energy used to heat your huts and therefore reducing the amount it costs to heat them, but the unique advantages of using wool provide benefits that other types of insulation simply can’t offer. No other type of insulation, for example, captures carbon like natural fibre (2kg of CO2 for every 1kg of wool used). It also helps keep you cool in summer and warm in winter, absorbs sound and reduces noise.
- Read more Plankbridge Guest Blogs here
