Thank you, your replies have confirmed that it is not a normal thing to do and it doesn't seem fair to the sheep to shear at this time of year.
Hi Juliet, can skins be sent away now or do they have to be shorn and then sent with the re growth before November? Who do you use to tan them for you? What is 'slipping' that happens after November? Do you send skins away from your lambs or hoggs? A few years ago I used Torrisdale Castle tannery in Argyle for some skins which were lovely but horrendously expensive, and two were small Hebridean ones! Rookey mistake by me!
I felted a fleece last year and it turned out really well but I'm too afraid to wash it incase the rest felts, any tips for that? I have some Shropshire sheep too now that were for grazing in the orchard, hmmm well, no they didn't eat the trees or strip the bark but they did eat every bud and shoot they could reach! They really are adorable sheep though and I'm looking forward to seeing what their fleece will be like this year. I hope you are well and the winter is being kind. I, along with everyone else on TAS I think, look forward to reading your posts so thank you very much for the time you take sharing your knowledge. Best wishes, fu