Cow Dung and Hurdles – Young People Learn New Craft Skills at Sussex Heritage Trust Taster Day

Young people from across Sussex took part in a Taster Day at Weald & Downland Living Museum on 4^th June 2024.

Funded by the South Downs National Park Authority, the Sustainable Communities Fund – South Downs Trust and The Foyle Foundation, the day was designed to encourage the next generation of builders into exciting new careers in building conservation.

Twenty seven students from Chichester College and Crawley College, and young people at the start of their careers with local construction businesses, got the opportunity to ‘taste’ four different building crafts: Practical Timber Repairs taught by timber expert Joe Thompson, Brickmaking taught by Weald & Downland Living Museum Interpreter Steve Scott and Tutor, William Cove, Hurdle Making taught by the Museum Curator, Julian Bell and Wattle & Daub taught by Learning Officer, Mark Harvey and Curatorial Assistant, Piotr Dlugaszek.

Most of the students came from carpentry and bricklaying courses or backgrounds, enjoyed learning the traditional heritage crafts.

Connor said: “Wattle and Daub was good fun – it was weird to use cow dung as a wall!”

Sam said: “Making bricks from scratch has taught me a new skill and given me lots of confidence to learn new things.”

Chichester College student, Ollie, who is also an apprentice at Milland Joinery said the day had given him ambition to progress further in the firm he is working with using the new skills he has learnt.