The Possum-Merino Felt Project Ltd is a project between 3 friends, Elisabeth Cave (Hokitika), Heather Gilbert (Kaikoura), and Julian Bracegirdle, (Taranaki), in New Zealand.

We want to test our thoughts that there is untapped potential for possum-merino fibre to be used as a felt, rather than just as a yarn.

We also see this as a potential way of paying possum trappers properly for their efforts, to encourage ground-based and toxin-free solutions to solve the 'possum problem', in a way which is swift and humane - rather than the extreme cruelty of aerial 1080 poisoning - and which does not compromise other animals, birds, bees and insects, or the enviroment or groundwater (and subsequent sea life).

If you don't know what 'aerial 1080 poisoning' means, it means flying helicopters over the native bush and mechanically ejecting poisoned food baits out from hoppers suspended under the helicopters, into the bush below, to deliberately to kill possums, and rats and stoats.

We invite you to do some research into the concerns about 1080, from both ordinary New Zealanders and from our government, who in 2019 committed $20 million to research alternatives to 1080.

We see an extraordinary untapped potential for fibre artists, small manufacturers and small fibre mills around the world to not only experience and directly benefit from of possum-merino fibre, but also - amazingly! - to help New Zealand solve some huge environmental problems.

The two fibres have been commercially blended and carded by Wild Earth Yarns (Christchurch) into batting and sliver, in a ratio of 25% possum to 75% merino. We use the batting in our Feltloom to make pre-felt and fulled felt. We send the sliver direct to customers for spinning and hand felt making.

If you're looking for unprocessed possum fibre, we have a sister website and shop at www.nzpossumfibre.co.nz

Feel free to contact me directly for more information.