A good night's sheep

Set in 121 hectares (300 acres) of North Yorkshire countryside, Harrison Spinks Farm is a picture-perfect corner of rural England. Sheep graze on the rich pasture around the Grade-II listed farmhouse, in the midst of ancient woodland and hedgerows buzzing with birdlife. And it’s here, rather than on a factory production line, that a mattress from the John Lewis Natural collection begins its life.

Exclusive to John Lewis, this range of luxury mattresses was developed in partnership with Spink & Edgar, a family firm of bedmakers with a heritage that stretches back to 1885. Faye Janes, assistant buyer for beds and bedroom furniture at John Lewis, says: “Spink & Edgar is the only manufacturer in the world to have a farm where it produces the materials to make its mattresses. It rears the sheep for their fleeces and also grows hemp, flax and even lavender, which all helps to limit the carbon footprint.”

All the fillings used in the mattresses are of natural origin. The wool is selected from breeds of sheep including Swaledale, Suffolk and Texel, which are known to produce the springiest fleeces. Flax and hemp are used for their strength and absorbency, which helps to regulate mattress temperature, and lavender is added for its anti-microbial properties. Faye says: “Natural materials are breathable and fire retardant – and they’re kinder to the environment.”

Flax and hemp are combined with quality wool to reinforce the strength and absorbency of Spink & Edgar’s matresses.
Photograph: Jon Bergman

Sustainability is a key concern throughout the manufacturing process. Spink & Edgar is working with recycling experts to develop a pioneering “closed-loop production” programme that will allow used mattress fillings to be turned into fertiliser. Buildings on the farm are heated by biomass technology, fuelled using byproducts from the fibre crops and wood from Spink & Edgar’s own 20-hectare (50-acre) forest in North Yorkshire.

The farm’s commitment to conservation is paying dividends. Careful management of the natural ecosystem has improved biodiversity, making the estate an attractive habitat for animals, birds and insects. Hedgerows are maintained to protect the wildlife and provide nesting and feeding environments for insects and small animals. Bird boxes are positioned around the farm to encourage different species to visit, including tits, finches and owls. A recent RSPB survey found 58 different types of bird at Harrison Spinks Farm – 11 of which were on the “red list” of most-threatened species.

The materials produced on the farm are complemented by Egyptian cotton, fine cashmere, angora (from goats)and sumptuous silk at Spink & Edgar’s Leeds factory. Each mattress is handcrafted by expert bedmakers, using skills passed down from generation to generation. But that’s not to suggest that manufacturing techniques haven’t kept up with the times. The Natural collection makes use of cutting-edge technology to offer the optimum level of support at night.

Unique to Spink & Edgar is the Revolution pocket spring system that gives superb postural support throughout the mattress’s life. Each pocket within the mattress’s core has a “spring within a spring” that gives just the right amount of support. The system is available in both medium and firm tensions.

Next is a layer of 2000 larger HD springs working in tandem with the natural fillings. Some mattresses then feature the smaller super HD (SHD) pocket springs and a sheet of super HD airflow springs that allows air to move through the surface of the mattress, keeping the fillings clean, healthy and dry. These are dependent on mattress size and type. All are designed to pivot in all three dimensions, not just up and down, so they’ll hug every contour of your body.

The combination of innovation and traditional craftsmanship demonstrated with the Natural collection extends across the complete John Lewis bedroom collection, from duvets to bed linen.

In its Herbert Parkinson factory in Lancashire, John Lewis produce a wide range of naturally breathable duvets, created using only ethically sourced feathers and down. The innovation even extends to its bed linen range, with 400-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets and pillow cases designed with two specific finishes – soft and silky, or crisp and soft – to suit your own personal sleep preference.

How to buy the right mattress

• Try out several different mattresses before you buy. There’s no magic formula to suit every sleeper; you’ll need to find the level of support that’s right for you.

• Don’t be shy and just sit down and bounce a few times on the edge of the mattress! Take time to lie down in your usual sleeping positions before making a final decision.

• If you’re buying a mattress for two, bring your partner along – what’s right for you may not be suitable for them. If necessary, consider a split-tension mattress with two different support levels.

• You won’t get the full benefit of a new mattress if you add tired old pillows and bed linen. Take the opportunity to renew your whole bedroom ensemble.

• Likewise, there’s no point investing in a decent mattress if your bed frame isn’t up to scratch, so you may want to buy a new one.

View a full range of mattresses on the John Lewis website

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A good night's sheep