20 June 2006
Dartmoor dry stone walling demonstration
| If you are interested in learning more about the skills needed to maintain one of the more significant features in the Dartmoor landscape – the dry stone wall – then make a note in your diary for Wednesday 5 July. |  |
 | Dartmoor National Park Authority has organised a free demonstration day where Master Craftsman Dave Hannaford will be showing how to repair and rebuild dry stone walls. The event will take place at Drywell Farm, Widecombe-in-the-Moor, by kind permission of Sue and Len Peach. |
The day starts at 10 am, and is very informal – just call in and take the opportunity to see work in progress and have a chat. The site will be signposted from the centre of Widecombe-in-the-Moor on the day. The demonstration runs until 4 pm.
This demonstration day is the precursor to a walling course which will take place in late August/early September 2006, where twelve places will be available for attendees to learn basic walling skills.
Dry stone walling courses have been run by Dartmoor National Park Authority over the last 9 years and are extremely popular. Qualified Master Craftsmen from the Devon Rural Skills Trust provide the tuition, which includes an introductory session on manual handling and safe lifting, tuition in both dry stone walling and stone-facing, and a final session on basic first aid.
There is no charge for entry to the demonstration day or for enrolment on the training course. So if you fancy seeing a Master Craftsman in action, or would like to find out more about learning this important traditional skill, come and join us.
Further information on the training course will be available on the demonstration day or contact Sue Halse, Land Management Officer, Dartmoor National Park Authority on (01626) 832093.
Ends
For Further Information
Sue Halse, Land Management Officer
Mike Nendick, Communications Officer, Dartmoor National Park Authority
Tel: (01626) 832093
High resolution images are available to accompany this news item
Please contact Marie-Claire Sabel, Multi-Media Technician, Dartmoor National Park Authority.
Tel: (01626) 832093
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Notes for Editors
Dartmoor’s stone walls are an integral part of the landscape, providing shelter and security for livestock and wildlife as well as being significant historical features. Their maintenance is only possible with the help and skill of local people. The Authority's very successful rural skills courses, run over the last 9 years, have provided new or more advanced training to nearly 150 trainees. Anyone is welcome to attend the demonstration days but priority for the training courses will be given to young farmers who live and/or work on Dartmoor and who will make use of their skills.
The demonstration site at Drywell Farm is located at Ordnance Survey grid reference SX 7007 7523. Parking is available and the site will be signed from Widecombe-in-the-Moor.
National Parks cover 10% of the land area of England, Wales and Scotland. They are of special value to the whole nation because of their great beauty, their wildlife and cultural interests and the opportunities they offer for quiet enjoyment. However, they are not nationally owned - the land is in the hands of many landowners or occupiers including farmers. Over 33,500 people live inside the Dartmoor National Park and many millions of visits are made to it each year.
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This page last updated 20 June 2006
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