Fibreshed Ireland

Mallon Linen

Helen Keys and Charlie Mallon have been growing flax on their farm since 2017. The have gradually been putting in place farm-scale infrastructure to process the flax. They have a retting facility in an upcycled cheese vat, drawing the used water out to spread on the land. The have a 1940’s scutching turbine, painstakingly restored which allows them to process around 100kgs of flax per day. They have scutched flax fibre available for sale. Hackling and spinning are currently hand done but they are working with others to get these next stages operational.

Location

Cookstown, Co.Tyrone

Visits by appointment only

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Mallon Linen

Is focusing on:

Biodiversity

We maintain mature, multispecies hedgerows with native species like holly, hawthorn, blackthorn, hazel, alder, elder, oak and ash. There are wet areas and old meadows which host orchids, irises, wild angelica, vetches, birds foot trefoil, many grasses and devil’s bit scabious. The flax crop attracts bees, hoverflies, butterflies and flocks of linnets. We don’t use any pesticides, herbicides or fungicides.

Habitat restoration

Allowing the hedgerows to spread out has created nature corridors around the farm and along the river. Over the last three years we have allowed the meadow to go to seed which has seen a significant increase in the variety of species, in particular large patches of devil’s bit scabious which is important for the marsh fritillary butterfly. We have also left sections with rushes and scrub for ground nesting birds. Woodland areas on the farm provide habitat for rabbits, badgers, foxes and deer.

Natural ways to increase productivity

Flax doesn’t need any external inputs; no fertiliser, pesticides, herbicides or fungicides. The preparation of the field and the seeding rates are key to weed suppression. We use the retting water as a natural fertiliser. We are also making our own compost for growing vegetables.

Riparian restoration

Our small stream has been fenced off with a 3m wide buffer zone. We don’t have any animals but do allow our neighbours cattle to graze late in the year so the buffer zone keeps them out of the river and they access water with pasture pumps. The only fertiliser we use is our retting water, the buffer zone ensures that this couldn’t reach the river. We would have to spread more than 60 times the amount we use to have a negative impact on the land.

Cultural heritage

Flax would have been grown on our farm and most other farms in the country. We have gathered up a library of old books and research and a collection of artefacts and machinery. We have many visitors to the farm including a lot of people who worked in the industry, we learn so much from them which we can pass on to other people.

Consumer producer relationship

Local farming wisdom

Community networks

Fibreshed Ireland

Mallon Linen

Location

Contact:

Photos

Mallon Linen

Is focusing on: