The wonder of wool is set to be explored

The wonders of wool will take centre stage at the National Museum of Rural Life this weekend.

The East Kilbride attraction hosts a special Woolly Weekend event on Saturday and Sunday.

Supported by Players of People’s Postcode Lottery, it will feature a variety of wool-themed activities including sheep life-drawing classes and the chance to see sheep being sheared.

Traditional skills such as spinning will be showcased in a series of demonstrations and visitors can get up close to alpacas, Zwartble sheep and Dutch Spotted sheep in the museum courtyard.

Craft activities include the chance to make a sheep mask or a pom-pom and families can also enjoy a petting zoo featuring a rabbit, Guinea pig, chicken, mouse and some creepy crawlies.

The National Museum of Rural Life’s historic working farm has recently seen the addition of around 220 new lambs to its flock of Scottish Blackface and Scotch Mule sheep and visitors can take a short walk up to the farm to see how the new arrivals have grown in recent weeks.

The Georgian farmhouse and gardens can be explored and families can seek out the beautiful sheep sculpture which forms part of the Museum’s Willow SculptureTrail.

The support of players of People’s Postcode Lottery means that Woolly Weekend is free with museum admission and the museum’s annual pass. Shirley Maciver, general manager, National Museum of Rural Life, said: “Our Woolly Weekend will allow visitors to see where this precious raw material comes from and will introduce them to some of the skills that have been used for centuries, and which are still used today, to produce amazing woolly creations.

“We’re extremely grateful to players of People’s Postcode Lottery for helping us to showcase this important element of Scottish rural life.”

The National Museum of Rural Life is open seven days a week from 10am until 5pm and tickets are valid for unlimited visits for 12 months from the date of purchase.