A GROUP of farmers from Devon have launched a campaign to help Balkan farmers. 

Hand2Shear, a group of skilled sheep shearers, are raising money to buy shearing equipment to help farmers in Western Balkan countries who are struggling to shear their sheep due to lack of skills, money and trained shearers. 

Around six million sheep in the area don't get their wool removed each year, which can cause them to overheat and die during the summer months. 

The group of Devon farmers are raising money to buy a mobile shearing trailer and equipment, enabling them to reach sheep in remote areas that have no shearing infrastructure or electricity. The trailer, which is custom-made in Devon, will make it easier to shear rare and remote sheep that are being missed in the mountains, as well as provide a safe working environment and better conditions for shearers.

Hand2Shear have been working with Balkan farmers over the past few years to train them on how to shear their small flocks of sheep with modern techniques. 

Daniel Floyd is leading the fundraiser. He said: "I started Hand2Shear in 2018, while shearing in the Balkan countries. I noticed they didn't have the infrastructure or funds to shear.

"These are countries that have the original sheep, small flocks of rare breeds – and they need to be sheared. With a trailer we can reach these remote mountain sheep and take their fleeces off. It's critical to save these species for future generations.

"As well as this, my vision is to attract more young people to become shearers and raise the profile of shearing as a profession."

Hand2Shear are hoping to raise £27,000 for the four person trailer and equipment so they can shear up to 50k sheep every three months during the shearing season. The trailer will also be used to train Balkan farmers on how to shear.

To donate, click here.

Balkan farmer Marco Orlić added: “We need to rely on British shearers to help us. There just aren't enough here.

"Our small flocks of rare breeds get so heavy with wool which can trap a lot of heat in a sheep's body – and this makes them weak and vulnerable to predators like wolves and bears."

According to Hand2Shear, rare and endangered breeds are now protected in Croatia and Slovenia but will be lost if welfare measures like shearing are not put in place to protect them.