Cotswolds Rural Skills

Here in the Cotswolds, traditional skills such as dry-stone walling, hedgelaying and woodland coppicing have played an important role in moulding the distinctive and unique landscape that we see around us today.

Unfortunately, the significant change in land management practices over the past century has resulted in many of these features being left neglected and falling into disrepair.

That's why here at the Cotswolds Conservation Board, we run an annual programme of training courses aimed at teaching people the methods and techniques involved in these traditional Cotswold skills.  Now, in our 7th year of running a rural skills programme, we are able to offer a wide range of enjoyable, practical courses from which trainees can leave with new found skills and the knowledge that they have helped to conserve one of the country's most important landscapes.

NEW for 2010 – LIME MORTAR and WOODLAND COPPICING COURSES!!!

In the Cotswolds we pride ourselves on the fact that on our walling courses you will be making a dry-stone wall built to last! Unlike some other courses in the UK, where trainees simply take down and rebuild the same piece of wall over and over again, on our courses you will be building a wall that will remain part of the Cotswolds landscape for the next 100-200 years!

Enroll on one of our courses and as well as spending an enjoyable weekend surrounded by a beautiful landscape you can expect to learn about: 

 The traditional art of hedgelaying has been part of the Cotswolds landscape for centuries. Originally used for the purposes of stock control, the skill of laying a hedge was once common practice. However, due to the introduction of cheaper and less labour intensive methods of stock control, this traditional form of land management is now a much rarer skill.
 

Green Woodworking is the centuries old skill of making wooden objects from unseasoned timber. In this sense the ‘green’ refers to timber that has been recently felled and so still contains some of its sap and water.

Gate Hurdle Making

Field Gate Making

Wooden Tool Making

Woodland coppicing is the name given to the method of periodically harvesting small areas of woodland, traditionally for a wide array of products. If done correctly it encourages the re-growth of trees and shrubs and prolongs their lives. This ancient practice (dating back to 4,500 BC) was originally used to source timber for the production of items such as gate and wattle hurdles, wooden tools, furniture and charcoal.