Dry Stone Walling, taster weekend

Two days, Saturday and Sunday, learning and practicing in a small group. We will be working on a real field boundary using the local gritstone, a kind of sandstone.

There will be plenty of time for one-to-one guidance from the tutor.e

We will cover assessing walls, the basic principals of building, dismantling broken walls safely, laying foundations, selecting and shaping stones plus numerous tricks of the trade to build solid and beautiful structures that will stand for many decades to come.

Dry stone walling is an immensely satisfying occupation, making a beautiful, lasting and important contribution to landscapes. It is entirely possible to make a living as a dry stone waller in many rural areas today.

Keith has had nearly 20 years experience building free standing walls, retaining walls and stone features, such as steps and seats. He has taught several people over the years and is keen to spread his knowledge to the next generation of wallers.

The site is a field, so facilities are very limited. Bring your own food and drink and sensible work clothes, including gloves and waterproofs. Steel toe cap boots or shoes are recommended. Unless the weather is dangerously bad we will run the course.

The start time is coordinated with a local bus from Hebden Bridge, although there is limited parking too.