Cotswold Chatterblog

People are being offered the opportunity to learn the traditional rural art of drystone walling in the beautiful surroundings of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). For the sixth year running the Cotswolds Conservation Board, the organisation that exists to conserve and enhance the AONB, is providing walling courses at locations across the 790 square mile protected landscape.

Between May and October this year, expert drystone wallers will be holding two-day courses which will appeal to beginners wanting to take up the craft but also offer those with a bit of walling ‘know-how’ the chance to hone their skills.

Two participants from last year’s programme of courses said that they were impressed with their training. John Hammill from Dursley in Gloucestershire said that it was ‘An excellent course delivered by a very competent and articulate trainer’. Nadeem Akram from Stroud said
‘The teaching was outstanding and it brought the subject to life. My interest in geology has increased’

During the last five years, over 1,000 people have taken part in the training courses. Some of these have gone on to take a nationally recognised qualification in drystone walling with many becoming professional wallers as a result. The chair man of the Cotswolds Conservation Board Neil Curwen said “Drystone walls are very much part of what makes the Cotswolds special because they are a key feature across the area. There are at least 4,000 miles of drystone walls in the AONB, (as long as the great wall of China). Sadly many of them are in a derelict state but it’s hoped that our walling courses will encourage people to maintain and restore them for future generations.”

The courses will be held at:

Long Compton in Warwickshire, Broadway in Worcestershire, Lansdown near Bath, Tetbury, Leckhampton and Naunton in Gloucestershire.

Wallers are being taught on Springhill Farm near Milton-Under-Wychwood by kind agreement of Mr Edward Reynolds. Students will graduate with a Lantra level two qualification in drystone walling, which is a nationally recognised qualification.

Drystone walling course dates 2008

May 10 & 11, Broadway - Worcestershire
May 17 & 18, Broadway - Worcestershire
June 7 & 8, Leckhampton - nr Cheltenham
June 14 & 15, Leckhampton - nr Cheltenham
June 21 & 22, Lansdown - nr Bath
July 5 & 6, Long Compton- Warwickshire
August 16 & 17, Long Compton- Warwickshire
August 23 & 24, Lansdown - nr Bath
Sept 27 & 28, Tetbury
Sept 27 & 28, Naunton - Gloucestershire
October 18 & 19, Tetbury
October 18 & 19, Naunton - Gloucestershire

Cost £55 per person, per 2 day course

Application forms can be downloaded from the Cotswolds Conservation Board website (see link below), or email Helen Walton (helen.walton@cotswoldsaonb.org.uk)

Source: Cotswolds Conservation Board, www.cotswoldsaonb.org.uk

Tags: conservation | cotswolds | countryside | crafts

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