The Wool Clip in Caldbeck weaves together Cumbria's wool makers

In the village of Caldbeck, on the northern edge of the Lake District, a group of makers has spent more than two decades proving that local wool deserves a place in the wardrobe. The Wool Clip is a co-operative that sells its members' work from Priest's Mill, and it has become a destination for anyone who loves natural fibres.

The co-operative was born out of hard times. It was formed in 2001, in the aftermath of the foot-and-mouth crisis that devastated Cumbrian farming, with support from grants from the Carnegie Trust and DEFRA. The aim was to add value to local wool and to promote the skills of its members.

Today it has around 15 members, most of them makers working in wool and mohair. Their skills cover the whole journey from fleece to finished piece: members range from sheep farmers to spinners, dyers, knitters and weavers.

That breadth gives the shop its character. Visitors can find knitwear, woven textiles and yarns, all made by people who live and work in the area, often from fleeces grown on Cumbrian fells.

The Wool Clip has grown steadily over the years. It has expanded its space within Priest's Mill three times, and in February 2009 opened a larger shop there, a move FarmingUK described as bucking the economic trend. The historic mill is also home to a café and a jewellery maker, making it easy to spend an unhurried hour there.

The co-operative continues to welcome new talent. Local news site Cumbria24 has reported on a keen young weaver joining the group, a sign that the craft is being passed on to a new generation and that the co-operative's founding aim of promoting members' skills is still very much alive.

The Wool Clip's influence reaches well beyond Caldbeck. The co-operative runs Woolfest, the natural-fibres festival in Cockermouth that began in 2005 and draws wool lovers from across the country.

Opening times have varied over the years, so it is worth checking The Wool Clip's website before making the trip to Priest's Mill.