Greens call for national Wool Strategy for Scotland
Scottish Green MSP Lorna Slater has urged the Scottish Government to commit to developing a national Wool Strategy, when they publish their Programme for Government this September.
The call, made in a letter from Lorna to the First Minister, is supported by more than 70 signatories including British Wool, Johnstons of Elgin and farms and small businesses from across Scotland.
Wool is integral to Scotland’s economy, landscape and cultural heritage. Our farmers produce it. Our skilled workers dye it, spin it and weave it into tweeds, and make it up into kilts. Tourists travel from around the world to buy it, hill walkers wear it and many people love knitting with it.
Wool production and use touches on many different sectors including agriculture, construction, skills, culture and heritage, small business, and tourism. It is an important sustainable fibre and part of a circular economy.
Wool producers in Scotland are facing mounting challenges; from a lack of students and apprentices learning to weave and make tartan, to farmers not being supported to innovate with wool production and products and small wool design businesses not being able to access the support they need to grow. Imported kilts made in China compete with Scottish-made kilts on our high streets.
Many of the current workers in the wool sector are aging, and within a few years Scotland could lose key skills and businesses, and with them an important part of our cultural heritage (as recognised by the Heritage Craft Association with Kiltmaking on the red list of endangered crafts).
The many sectors of the Scottish Economy that produce, use and otherwise interact with wool are poorly served by the structure of the Scottish Government, which has separate ministries and departments for the nine or ten portfolios the wool industry operates in.
Lorna said:
“Wool includes everything from kilts, tweed and cloth to our native breed Shetland wool for making wool garments from Scottish designers, and iconic heritage crafts like Shetland lace and Fair Isle jumpers.
“It can be used as insulation in buildings, in innovative and sustainable natural products like mattresses, flame resistant carpets and durable seat covers for public transport.
“It is a wonderful fibre, but the sector is going through tough times. Producers are feeling the loss of scouring plants and other infrastructure, an aging workforce and a lack of opportunities for younger workers and the struggles of farmers, and small rural businesses to survive.
“I’m asking the Scottish Government to bring together the different parts of Government that look after wool and get them to work together on a targeted Wool Strategy for Scotland.”