Meet Mark Wilkinson – County Representative

Tell me about yourself?

I am a sheep farmer from Stockport who has been shearing for over 30 years. I have also been a registered British Wool drop off site for 5 years now however, people around the local area have been dropping their wool with me for much longer than that. I was then elected to the regional committee this year representing Staffordshire and Cheshire.

Tell me about your farm and interest in the sheep industry?

I previously farmed 250 Scottish Blackface Ewes however I now have a smallholding producing mule shearlings as this is all the ground can take. As well as this I also have a small egg enterprise.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

Most of my time is spent trying to keep the place going! I also enjoy partaking in quizzes, watching sports and a game of lacrosse which I used to play in school.

Why did you want to be involved with British Wool and how important is British Wool’s role in the UK sheep industry.

British Wool are a huge resource that supports various areas of the wool industry that if British Wool wasn’t there, wouldn’t exist. From the competitions that British Wool sponsor, the judges, the world record attempts and the shearing training courses. Without this support and training there would be a lack of shearers and a huge loss of talent and expertise in the UK.

British Wool is also a farmer organisation and ensuring a fair deal for its farmer members is an important part of their work.  I feel proud to represent the sheep farmers of Staffordshire and Cheshire at British Wool.