Decision is that there will be no Woolfest 2022

The Wool Clip co-operative, whose members organise Woolfest, has decided that there will not be a Woolfest in 2022, neither "live" nor online.

"We've been giving the future of the event considerable thought in recent months," says Ruth Strong, current Chair of the co-operative. "After two online events in 2020 and 2021, we had hoped to be holding a "real" Woolfest in 2022 but have decided to take a year's break and then bounce back post-pandemic with something that is smaller scale and more niche."

Woolfest was first held at Mitchell's Lakeland Livestock Centre near Cockermouth in late June in 2005 and continued as an annual event until 2019. An online event was created under lockdown in 2020 and was repeated in 2021. It is likely that Woolfest in future will be in a different venue as there have been significant changes at Mitchell's. However, it will still have a focus on its Cumbrian roots and as a celebration of natural fibres.

"We are certainly keen to maintain the original ethos," says Ruth, "bringing value to wool and presenting a friendly and high-quality event. That's what has made Woolfest such a success in the past."