6 Ways to Help Save the Endangered Teeswater Sheep

The Teeswater sheep is a rare gem in the world of wool—known for its silky curls and lustrous fleece, but also critically endangered, especially in North America.

This British long-wool breed has been around for centuries, yet today, only a small number remain. As fiber artists, farmers, and animal lovers, we all have the power to help preserve this incredible breed—through the choices we make, the fiber we use, and the stories we share.

Here are six meaningful ways you can help save the Teeswater sheep:

1. Buy Teeswater Wool

Support Teeswaters by using their fiber! Their silky, lustrous wool is a favorite for spinners and felters, and for good reason. It's strong, shiny, and incredibly versatile. But beautiful wool alone isn't enough. Creating demand for rare breed wool gives farmers a reason to keep raising these sheep. When the wool sells, the breed survives.

Every skein, batt, or lock you buy helps keep Teeswaters on the land. Your purchases directly support small farms and rare breed conservation through craft. Choose wool that matters.

2. Join the Shave 'Em to Save 'Em Program

The Shave 'Em to Save 'Em (SE2SE) initiative by The Livestock Conservancy rewards fiber artists for using wool from endangered sheep breeds like the Teeswater. When you buy qualifying wool from participating farms, you earn a stamp in your SE2SE passport. As you collect stamps, you become part of a national network of makers helping preserve genetic diversity.

Signing up is easy, and every fleece you spin or felt helps conserve a living legacy.

Learn more and join: https://livestockconservancy.org/se2se

3. Share Your Creations

Have you worked with Teeswater fleece, yarn, or locks? Show it off! Sharing your projects online helps spread the word about this special breed.

• Post your work on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook.

• Share photos and stories in online fiber groups.

• Tag farms and use hashtags like #TeeswaterSheep, #RareBreedWool, and #FiberWithPurpose

When you share your rare breed wool projects online, you raise awareness and show others how special these fibers are. Your voice helps educate others and builds appreciation for the value of heritage sheep and wool.

4. Support Small Farms

Most rare breeds, like the Teeswater sheep, are raised by small-scale shepherds who prioritize animal welfare, conservation, and sustainable practices. Supporting them means supporting the future of the breed.

Heres how to help:

• Buy wool, yarn, or handmade goods directly from Teeswater farms.

• Join wool CSAs or seasonal fiber boxes.

• Follow and amplify shepherds on social media.

• Tell others where your wool comes from.

These farms are doing the hard work of preservation your support keeps them going. Don't forget — Your dollars go farther with farmers.

5. Add Teeswaters to Your Flock

Are you a shepherd or homesteader looking to diversify your flock? Teeswaters might be a perfect addition. They're known for:

• Gentle temperaments

• Hardy constitutions

• High-quality, lustrous wool

By raising or breeding Teeswaters, you help build the population and safeguard genetic diversity. Seek registered breeding stock, connect with experienced breeders, and help the breed thrive, one lamb at a time. Whether you're breeding purebred lines or using them in thoughtful crossbreeding, you're helping maintain the breed's presence— and strengthening its future.

6. Learn & Educate

The more we know, the more we care. Not everyone knows that livestock breeds can go extinct, but awareness is powerful. You can help by:

• Talking about endangered breeds with your fiber community.

• Giving a short demo or talk at your guild or local fair

• Sharing facts and blog posts (like this one!)

• Encouraging others to ask where their fiber comes from

Education sparks action — and helps keep endangered breeds like the Teeswater in the public eye. The more people who know about the Teeswater and why it matters the more support the breed can gain.

Every Stitch Counts. Ready to Get Involved?

Endangered doesn't have to mean extinct. Whether you're spinning a single skein or managing a flock, your choices make a real difference in the future of breeds like the Teeswater. On Endangered Species Day—and Every Day—Choose Conservation.

Shop Teeswater wool products on our website—All eligible for the Shave 'Em to Save 'Em program. Don't forget to log your stamps and celebrate your impact!

Let’s keep the Teeswater both in our fields and in our hands.