5,000 flock to record-breaking Woolfest 2009

Nearly 5,000 visitors, more than 100 craft stalls, 400 fleeces and a veritable farmyard of sheep, goats, alpacas and rabbits ensured that this year's Woolfest - the annual festival of all things woolly and woollen - was a huge success for its social enterprise organisers over the weekend.

Woolfest, which took place on Friday and Saturday just outside Cockermouth, in Cumbria, took more than £24,000 in entry fees, not to mention the trade done by the spinners, dyers, weavers, felters and other craftspeople selling their wares.

The event also raised £1,100 for the charity Farm Africa from the auction of 80 knitted sheep.

Woolfest, now in its fifth year, is run by members of The Woolclip, a co-operative social enterprise which earlier this year won the North West Women in Business Social Enterprise Award 2009.

The event got European funding in its first two years but since then has been completely self-sustaining.

‘The numbers exceeded last year's record,' said Marion Woolcott, one of the organisers. ‘We had visitors from as far away as North America and Australia as well as plenty of local Cumbrian enthusiasts and knitters, felters, spinners and weavers from across the UK, from Kent to the Orkneys.'

Further information, visit www.woolclip.com and www.woolfest.co.uk.