People across North East Wales are being given the opportunity to learn a new skill and help maintain an ancient craft.
The North Wales Branch of the Dry Stone Walling Association (DSWA) has joined forces with the Clwydian Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) to provide a comprehensive programme of dry stone walling training this spring and summer.
Dry stone walls are an important component of the mosaic that is the British landscape and play a significant role in parts of the Clwydian AONB. However they do not last forever and changes in modern farming practice means many are falling into a state of disrepair and within the AONB a programme has recently been launched to try and halt this decay, with a series of taster days and weekend training courses taking place on Moel Famau, Moel Findeg and Nercwys Forest, starting with a taster day on Moel Famau on 20 March.
The full programme is:
20 March Taster Day Moel Famau
10 April Taster Day Moel Famau
24 /25 April Training Course Moel Famau
15 May Taster Day Moel Findeg
5/6 June Training Course Nercwys Forest
3 July Taster Day Moel Famau
21/22 July Training Course Moel Famau
2/3 October Certification Training/Orientation Cerrig y Drudion
16 October A Craftsman Certification day Cerrig y Drudion.
The partnership between the Drystone Walling Association and the Clwydian Range AONB is aimed at raising awareness of the importance of these traditional landscape features and to promote the skills required to keep them going.
David Shiel – Countryside Officer for the Clwydian Range said, “ The Clwydian Range is recognised as a high quality landscape. This quality has been partly established over centuries of farming and land management. It is important that this quality continues and is reflected in modern day management. The Drystone Walling Association set a standard for walling and maintain it through training and assessment.”
Taster days are one-day courses where the aim is to introduce participants to the basic principles of stone selection and placement. Normally the work involves dismantling and rebuilding a gap in a wall, and gives participants to get a feel for the craft and see if they might benefit from going on a full course. These days tend to be more informal and shorter than those on full courses, and cost £20 which goes towards helping the branch in its charitable role of preserving, improving and advancing education in the craft of dry stone walling
In addition to introducing newcomers to the craft, the DSWA runs the only National Tiered and Accredited certification scheme. The “Craftsman Certification” scheme has four levels from Initial for the near beginner, through to Master Craftsman. These form part of the Lantra Awards – vocational qualifications that are recognised throughout the UK. Qualifications are available at levels 1,2 and 3 within the National Vocational Qualification framework.
The Clwydian Range AONB is a protected landscape and as such is recognised as one of the finest landscapes in the UK.
Designated in 1985 this year marks the 25th Anniversary of the Clwydian Range AONB.
If you’d like the opportunity to help save an ancient craft and maintain the Welsh landscape, then contact North Wales Branch Secretary Sean Adcock on 01286 871275 or email [email protected] for further details.
