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robin wood
10-01-2010, 17:12
"THEY are the crafts that seemed to have fallen foul of our throwaway culture. The intricate dry stone walls cutting gently through our countryside and the delicate wrought iron created at the anvil were seen as dying skills of a bygone era.

Apparently not, according to gardener and presenter Monty Don, who insists such crafts are enjoying a renaissance as people reject the thrill of instant gratification and opt for “meaningful skills [that] modern life hasn’t been very good at supplying”.

Full article here in the Express
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/150876/Why-we-ve-all-fallen-in-love-with-traditional-crafts-again

If you care about traditional crafts and would like to see them supported and promoted visit the Heritage Crafts Association www.heritagecrafts.org.uk
or joint the facebook group http://www.facebook.com/pages/Heritage-Crafts-Association/76521534812?ref=mf
Daegurth
10-01-2010, 17:20
good article, i'm definitely going to try to catch the show. i'm starting to become very interested in metalwork myself.
caliban
11-01-2010, 19:52
Yeah it's nice that they are being revived, but these trad crafts/items tend to return as boutique crafts for yuppies that normal people can't afford. What me ...negative?
Front Room Woodlander
12-01-2010, 10:55
I wanted to do a cabinat makers course. I approached the local tech college and they dont do one. No one in the area does one.
No blacksmiths either.
Even butchers are a trade in decline, and as for bakers and candlestick makers.....
Melonfish
12-01-2010, 13:03
i'm off doing a hedgelaying course at the end of this month, i'm REALLY looking forward to it, good hard graft with a fantastic payoff. i'd love to learn drystone walling too.
Matt.S
12-01-2010, 15:16
I wanted to do a cabinat makers course. I approached the local tech college and they dont do one. No one in the area does one.
No blacksmiths either.
Even butchers are a trade in decline, and as for bakers and candlestick makers.....

Where are you at? I have contacts in the smithing trade (surprise surprise).
galopede
12-01-2010, 17:23
Anyone tried the BTCV holidays or courses? British Trust for Conservation Volunteers I think it is.

BTCV (http://www2.btcv.org.uk/)

I went on a few of their weekends a few years ago. Not done the courses. I've learned basic hedge laying, dry stone walling, built a footbridge over a stream and several other things.

I can only speak for their weekends but they are great fun and you make a load of new (and mad!) friends. Food and indoor camping is provided and a trip to the pub seems to be involved of an evening!

Gareth