Project News 2008
Here you will find all of the news from the 2008 Traditional Boundaries, Traditional Skills Project. If you want to know more about the background to the project, click here.
Dry Stone walling at Barrowburn
The Rotbury team tackled some challenging bolder walls in upper Coquetdale during September and October the photos show that on some days the weather was also in a challenging mood!
Working in all weather
Success for 2008 TBTS trainees at Dry Stone Walling Examinations
On the 10th of September all this year’s TBTS trainees sat their final Dry Stone Walling examinations.
These exams involved taking down 2.5 metres of wall including a cheek end and rebuilding it in seven hours whilst under observation by two qualified Dry Stone Walling Association examiners.
This year we had eight trainees sitting their Intermediate exam, one sitting the initial exam and a local farm employee also sitting the intermediate level exam. The examination is jointly awarded by the DSWA and LANTRA the Land Skills Training Agency.
We’re delighted to announce everyone passed their exams!
The picture below shows the successful group of candidates at the National Park’s Walltown quarry site.
Front row L to R - Stephen Bostock (DSWA), Sally Clegg, Aidan Clark, Sam Gardiner, Chris Wright, Stuart Elliott ( Bradley FM external candidate), Marc Adams, Elliott Horsfield, Kyle Rafferty.
Back Row L to R - Steven Allen (DSWA), Chris Hanner, Matthew Harrison.
Not in the picture but vital to the trainees' success were our two dry stone walling trainers Stephen Green and David Tasseel whose professional training and instruction has taken the trainees from novices to the Intermediate level qualification, the level that a professional waller is expected to achieve.
Stone seat construction at the Forestry Commission Simonside Car Park
As well as pitching on simonside two of the Rothbury team Sam Gardiner and Sally Clegg and Forestry Commission apprentice Luke Davison built a curved stone seat beside the information board in the car park
Work in progress
The finished job.
Pitching on Simonside near Rothbury - July 2008
In July both TBTS teams had the opportunity of carrying out stone pitching on Simonside near Rothbury. The work they carried out was part of a project to stone pitch the footpath that runs along the high ridge at Simonside to protect the underlying peat from erosion.
The most recent pitching from the start point
The recent pitching is just part of a very long term project to help protect the landscape from erosion by walkers.
Heritage Skills Fair - July 2008
On the weekend of Friday, July 11 - Sunday , July 13 the TBTS teams attended the Heritage Skills Fair at Gibside Chapel near Rowlands Gill.
Heritage Skills Fair
Well over 4000 people attended and saw many traditional skills demonstrated over the three day event.
TBTS helps to 'FIX The Fells' early July 2008
In early July, Rothbury and Haltwhistle teams with their trainers Stephen Green and David Tasseel spent some time with the Lakeland 'Fix the Fells' project to experience footpath repair and stone pitching in the lakes.
They were based at High Wray Basecamp, a National Trust bunkhouse near Ambleside. Throughout the week the weather was unfortuately poor, but despite this everyone had a great time and learned a lot from a team that over five years, has transformed many lakeland footpaths that have suffered form erosion by walkers.
Pitching near Ambleside during a break in the rain.
It can get very muddy.
Some of the completed footpath repair work.
Newbrough School, Opening of new playground - May 2008
The TBTS team with Dame Tanni Grey Thompson
Rochester Village Hall community garden project - April/May 2008
Ground works get started
Ground works in progress
Both TBTS teams are involved in the project
The completed walls, apart from the coping stones which the project will make and fit in due course
Rochester Village Hall - Before and After
The completed wall and boundary fence.
Work in progress at Wagtail Farm - March 12, 2008
Work continues at Wagtail Farm near Rothbury with good progress being made by our Rothbury based team.
Sally Clegg putting her new ATV skills to use – loading a trailer at Wagtail Farm
Chris hanner finishes off a ‘Cheek end’ at Wagtail Farm
Restoration of a stone sheep pen at Sidwood - March 2008
In conjunction with the Forestry Commission and with help from rangers Paget Lazzari and Keith Weeks, David Tasseel’s Haltwhistle team took on the restoration of a stone sheep pen which had been hidden in the forest near Greenhaugh and was only revealed recently when the area was made accessible due to clear felling of the area.
Over the past month or so the Haltwhistle Team of Marc Adams, Elloitt Horsefield, Kyle Rafferty and Matthew Harrison have together with David’s advice rebuilt the stone walls that were damaged due to fallen trees.
Sidwood before repair work
Sidwood during the repair work
Sidwood after the repairs have been done
ATV Training - February 27, 2008
L to R - Sally Clegg, Chris Hanner, Sam Gardiner, Chris Wright, Aidan Clark, Kyle Rafferty, Elliott Horsfield, Marc Adams, and Matthew Harrison.
Haltwhistle and Rothbury TBTS trainees at Kirkley Hall – ATV Training.
Dry stone wall re-build - Wagtail Farm, Rothbury - February 13, 2008
Sally Clegg one of this year's trainees based at our Rothbury base re-building a dry stone wall at Wagtail Farm Rothbury.
Left to right: Chris Hanner, Sam Gardiner and Aidan Clark help re-build the wall at Wagtail Farm framed against a clear blue sky in untypically warm weather on Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Gorse clearance at Shotton Farm, Kilham (Near Scottish Border) - February 2008
The Haltwhistle and Rothbury TBTS teams and National Park volunteers are involved with clearing a meadow of gorse to help improve the habitat for birds and invertibrates. Creating areas of clear ground below the gorse will reduce shading and provide opportunities for the return of plants such as Rock Rose. In addition there are plans to improve the management of the meadow to promote the growth of hay meadow plants such as Wood Cranesbill.
TBTS Trainees Sally, Chris Wright and Aidan clearing the gorse
Trainees clear the gorse
Marc Adams sawing through gorse
Cleared area of gorse
A right of way that runs across the hillside has now been cleared of gorse and access to the area improved by linking up with a continuation of the right of way that runs alongside a wood.
We estimate we've cleared about 240 metes of footpath that was previously impassable due to gorse growth.
Hedge laying workshop - January 2008
Hedging trainer Burt Hunter puts the TBTS trainees through their paces in a hedge laying workshop in Haltwhistle.
First fence for trainees - January 2008
Traditional Boundaries trainees had their first go at fencing in Haydon Bridge in January 2008, not an easy task in the middle of winter.
Kyle trimming a fence post
Sally and Elliot knocking in the staples
New year, new trainees - December 2007
A new year of training for the TBTS Project began in December 2007.
Back row. L-R: Kevin Malone (Traditional Skills Project Officer), Sam Gardiner, Marc Adams, Mathew Harrison, Chris Hanner, Jeremy Woltron and David Tasseel (Trainer). Front row. L-R: Steven Green (Trainer), Christopher Wright, Kyle Rafferty, Sally Clegg, Aidan Clark and Elliot Horsefield.
Pictured at the National Park's Hexham Headquarters during their induction training are our ten 2007/2008 trainees with their trainers David Taseel and Stephen Green.
After they have completed their induction the trainees will begin the one year course with their first experience of dry stone walling.
