Organised for charity by the Worshipful Company of Woolmen
On-line Bookings now Open!
Sunday 25th September 2022
Charity Sheep Drive – for Freemen, family and friends: taking place on London Bridge
Livery Fair – open to all and free to enter: at The Monument
See ewe there!
Calling all Freemen; book your place now for yourself, your family and your friends for the 2022 London Bridge Sheep Drive. Children are most welcome!
The Lord Mayor, also a Woolman, welcomed an unusual visitor to Mansion House to officially declare that the Worshipful Company of Woolmen’s Sheep Drive is open for bookings. “Harlequin”, a crossbreed ewe from the Woodlands Farm Trust, a City Farm, accompanied the Master of the Worshipful Company of Woolmen, and distinguished guests. This ewe-nique annual City event will be held on London Bridge in 2022 with a magnificent Livery Fair at The Monument.
Sheep Drive: London Bridge
Freemen can book there places on the drive here. Over 1,000 Freemen are expected to exercise their ancient right to drive sheep to market over the Thames, toll-free. This great livery occasion will once again be in aid of the Woolmen’s Charity and Lord Mayor’s Appeal. Hurry as bookings have previously quickly sold out!
Livery Fair: The Monument, Free to enter
Join us at the wonderful Livery Fair, located at the north end of London Bridge on the piazza adjacent to The Monument – one of the City’s most loved visitor attractions. Livery and specialist wool companies will be celebrating their trades and crafts with interactive displays and sale of their wares. Other fun activities will include expert blade shearing displays and some wonderful rare breed sheep!
Worshipful Company of Woolmen:
“This eagerly-anticipated charity event in the Livery calendar returns to London Bridge for 2022. The Woolmen organise our unique charity fundraising event for all Freemen of the City of London, their families and friends. We look forward to welcoming many livery company members to drive sheep over the Thames and to join us for a marvellous Livery Fair at The Monument. This is sure to be a vibrant and fun day out in the City with the chance to delve into the fascinating history of the livery trades, alongside wonderful wool stalls and even a few sheep… A fantastic family day out.”
The Rt Hon the Lord Mayor, Vincent Keaveny:
As Lord Mayor and also a liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Woolmen, I am delighted to be taking part in this year’s Sheep Drive and visiting the Livery Fair. I would like to thank the Freemen, Livery Companies, The Campaign for Wool and all our sponsors raising funds for the Woolmen’s Charity and Lord Mayor’s Appeal. The Sheep Drive and Livery Fair remind us all that the link between City and Wool remains as important to us today as it has ever been.”
Peter Ackroyd MBE, COO, The Campaign for Wool:
“Wool is widely recognised as one of the most sustainable and versatile fibres in the world and is as relevant to the very fabric of society today as it has ever been – whether for personal attire and home use or for its many fascinating 21st Century industrial and construction uses.” www.campaignforwool.org
About Harlequin and the Woodlands Farm Trust.
Harlequin, named for her half-black, half-white face, is a crossbreed ewe who would normally be chewing the cud at a 36-hectare working city farm between Greenwich and Bexley with cattle, sheep, pigs and hens. As well as being open to the public six days a week, the Trust has over 4,000 educational visits a year and runs a weekend club for 11 to 18-year-olds. Three full-time employees, and 60 volunteers help run the farm.
David Jones, Farm Manager, Woodlands Farm Trust:
“City farms are important; they can show the urban population the origin of food on their plate and also in our case first-hand experience on how farming can work with nature.”