BAS regional spotlight

Spotlight on the Scottish Alpaca Group

Scottish Alpaca Group

CHAIR:

Marleen Miller, netherfieldalpacas@yahoo.co.uk

SECRETARY:

David Gwyther, david.gwyther@live.co.uk

TREASURER/MEMBERSHIP:

Pauline Robson, pmrwestyett@btinternet.com

GROUP REPRESENTATIVES: WELFARE/SHOWS:

Stuart Ramsay, info@velvethall-alpacas.co.uk

EVENTS:

Ian Mitchell, ianmit@aol.com

WEBSITE:

Bob Crosbie, bob@bobcat-alpacas.co.uk

SHOW COMMITTEE:

Bob Crosbie, Marleen Miller, Ian Mitchell, Stuart Ramsay (Chair), Pauline Robson

MEMBERS OF THE BAS BOARD: PREVIOUS BAS BOARD MEMBER:

Stuart Ramsay

CURRENT BAS BOARD MEMBER:

Ian Mitchell  www.scottishalpacagroup.org facebook-f Scottish Alpaca Group

The Scottish Alpaca Group (SAG) is a

regional group of the British Alpaca Society (BAS), writes Marleen Miller, chair. The group was established when The Alpaca Farmers of Scotland was disbanded in 2014. The focus of the new group was to be less formal and more friendly and inclusive, allowing non-BAS members also to join.

Our membership has risen each year with many new herds starting out on their alpaca journey. Our current membership stands at 45 herds. At the last annual general meeting (AGM) in October 2020, we agreed to offer all new Scottish herds a free year’s membership to encourage people to join and learn from the vast knowledge of the members.

Members of the group benefit from friendship, experience, mentoring, and education including workshops held for fleece sorting for shows, veterinary workshops concentrating on parasites, and recently a zoom call describing the successful journey of Barbara and Paul Hetherington of Beck Brow Alpacas.

The workshops are well attended considering the extensive geographic area the group covers, from the Highlands and Islands to as far down as Northumberland. It was our intention to have a yearly or two yearly educational visit to some of the larger alpaca herds in the UK, the last one included a group visit to Toft Alpacas and Bozedown Alpacas. Obviously Covid-19 created a situation where social and educational events could not take place in person and unfortunately there is an element of the membership who do not have access to the internet and social media.

Exciting plans for halter shows

It has also been a difficult year for showing with the cancellation of our flagship spring championships, for the second year running. However, we are excited to announce that our 2022 halter championships will be our first two day show held on the last Saturday and Sunday in April.

We have secured the current venue for the next three years, giving the committee the opportunity to focus on making the two day show a success. The Scottish Alpaca Group also collaborates with the North West Alpaca Group (NWAG) in organising the annual Northern Fleece Show and this collaboration will introduce the first two day Northern Alpaca Halter Show at the end of October this year. It will be an annual event held at Penrith Mart, hosting a fibre zone giving exhibitors the opportunity to display their wool, crafts, and knitwear.

Growing membership and public profile

As the Scottish group membership grows the breeders are actively encouraged to take part in the show circuit. This year’s National Fleece Championships saw a strong Scottish group representation with qualifying champions fleeces from Balnuith Alpacas, Bobcat Alpacas, Hannahston Alpacas, Velvet Hall Alpacas and Westyett Alpacas/Teinteach Alpacas.

The fantastic Velvet Hall Finisterre went on to be awarded both the champion grey fleece and Judges Choice. The qualifications and results reflect the continued improvement and quality of

the Scottish Herd.

Scotland’s herds also participate in the hospitality industry with a large number now offering trekking and farm visits along with classes using alpaca fibre. The public association with alpacas in Scotland has increased fourfold over the last three years and many of the herds have appeared in local newspaper and TV shows.

With birthing season upon us it is fantastic that breeders in Scotland can now have access to plasma thanks to Bob Crosbie arranging an annual blood collection service for plasma spinning with his local vet at The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in Edinburgh. The days are very well organised with breeders bringing their host animals to the premises. The Dick Vet School has built up a fantastic knowledge of camelids and are used for referrals of sick alpacas and llamas in the central region by localised vets.

If the group is of interest to you and you would like to join, please contact Pauline Robson or Marleen Miller for the membership forms.