Try your hand at dry stone walling

Places are being snapped up for a two day course in dry stone walling and there are still some spaces available.  Anyone interested in learning this historic craft is welcome to take part on 13 and 14 October, 9am until 4pm on Leckhampton Hill, at a cost of £99.  No experience is necessary; all that is required is a bucket full of enthusiasm.

The course is being offered by the Cotswolds Conservation Board, in partnership with Cheltenham Borough Council.  Unlike some other courses in the UK, where trainees simply take down and rebuild the same piece of wall over and over again, on this course attendees will be building a wall on Leckhampton Hill, which will remain part of the Cotswolds landscape for the next 100-200 years.

Participants will gain hands-on experience in dismantling walls, stone sorting, laying foundations, building up of the wall, adding through stones and copping stones, dressing the stone, how to use the tools and much more.

Wayne Sedgwick, the council’s senior community ranger said:  ‘’It’s great to see that a traditional craft like dry stone walling is still alive and the wall will benefit Leckhampton Hill for years to come.’’

David Molloy, rural skills and grants officer for the Cotswolds Conservation Board said: ‘’Dry-stone walls are a prominent feature of the Cotswolds landscape and it is important that the skills required to repair and rebuild these walls are not lost from this Area of Natural Beauty. The Cotswolds Conservation Board is delighted to be working with Cheltenham Borough Council to provide these training opportunities so that dry-stone walls, such as that at Leckhampton Hill, will remain in the Cotswolds for future generations to enjoy.”

For further information and to book a place online, visit www.cotswoldsruralskills.org.uk or call David Molloy on 01451 862000.

Contact:
Katie Sandey, Communications and web team leader, telephone 01242 775050.

Notes:

What do you need to know: No prior experience required. This course is ideal for those who have very limited knowledge of dry stone walling and want to learn more! Intermediate courses are also now available.

Instructor: Kath Wright is a LANTRA Advanced Level Dry-stone Waller will many years experience working and teaching in the Cotswolds. Besides instructing on courses for the Board, Kath also teaches for the Dry-stone Walling Association of Great Britain.

What to bring on the day: All tools and materials will be provided, although you are welcome to bring your own walling hammer and gloves. All you need to bring is appropriate clothing, hard wearing footwear, packed lunch and a bucket full of enthusiasm.