ANYONE tuning into a recent edition of BBC’s ‘Countryfile’ will have seen craft courses run from the Welsh Mill in Frome featured as part of an investigation by Tom Heap, their rural affairs correspondent, into a new report on endangered crafts.
The Radcliffe Red List of Endangered Craft was published to encourage the Government to protect craft in the same way we protect our historic buildings. Tom Heap introduced “Britain’s most endangered species …and it is isn’t a mammal, bird or even a reptile’’ before trying out the craft of hurdle making.
Kate Dewmartin from CraftCourses.com met Tom Heap and the BBC crew at the Welsh Mill in Frome, where leatherwork, bike building, book binding, stained glass and print making courses are all on offer from experienced professionals. Kate introduced Tom to master leatherworker, Bill Blakie, who showed him the rudiments of saddle stitch.
CraftCourses was asked about the popularity of craft courses and were happy to report that there is no lack of interest in learning crafts from the British public – as well as international visitors to the UK. With over 2,000 enquiries a week and over a million visitors to the website over the last year, there seems to be something of a resurgence in Britain.
