Traditional Skills Training and Information Project

The Tywi Centre in Llandeilo is running a series of short courses aimed at rediscovering and developing traditional building skills.

The courses will provide an opportunity for individuals to develop theoretical and practical skills and knowledge needed to look after old buildings and natural habitats in a traditional and sustainable manner. The courses are ideal for builders, building professionals, farmers, landowners and homeowners or anyone with an interest in heritage.

Courses include thatching, building with lime, using traditional and ecological paints, hedge laying and dry stone walling, to name a few. All of the courses will be delivered by experts and specialists within their field.

Given that one third of dwellings in Wales are of traditional pre-1919 generally solid wall construction, it is vitally important that the correct materials and methods are employed, otherwise Carmarthenshire is at risk of losing a substantial part of its built heritage. The Tywi Centre is at the forefront of providing appropriate training and education to address this issue.

The Tywi Centre will also be exploring, through seminars, courses and events, the use of compatible modern materials, energy saving and efficiency, and energy generation.

The next one-day course being held at the Tywi Centre will be ‘Repair and Maintenance of Timber Sliding Sash Windows on March 21.

Other courses coming up include: River and Stream Management Tuesday April 3,

Old House Clinic Thursday April 19, Introduction to Lime Saturday April 28,

Lime Plastering Saturday May 5, Traditional, Natural and Ecological Paints Thursday May 10, Introduction to Thatching Wednesday May 16, and

Pond creation, restoration and management on Wednesday May 17.

For people aiming to gain a formal qualification in Heritage Building, the Foundations in Heritage Bursary Scheme is also run by the Tywi Centre. The Bursary scheme provides heritage building skills training to 30 students across West Wales over two years, supporting them through their NVQ3 in Heritage. The application process for 2012/13 programme will begin in April 2012.

Anyone interested in finding out more about the courses should come along to the Open Day being held at the Tywi Centre on April 21st 2012 or contact the Heritage Training Officer, Tom Duxbury: Canolfan Tywi Centre, Dinefwr Farm, Llandeilo, SA19 6RT. Tel: 01558 824271. E-mail: tduxbury@carmarthenshire.gov.uk

The Tywi Centre is located at Dinefwr Farm, Llandeilo, and is managed by Carmarthenshire County Council. Funding for the Centre has been secured through grants from the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-2013 which is funded by the Welsh Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development together with The Heritage Lottery Fund, Carmarthenshire County Council, and Countryside Council for Wales and with the support of the National Trust.

Caption: Nell Hellier working on a sash window at the Tywi Centre,Llandeilo.

Pic Jeff Connell