Have you ever fancied trying your hand
at being a blacksmith, weaving a basket
or making your own pair of shoes?

Well now you can, thanks to an exciting
programme of traditional crafts courses
being provided at Stanwick Lakes. Courses
include blacksmithing, basketry, green
woodworking and dry stone walling and
have been designed to give a hands-on
experience of the craft. Participants will be
able to take home the items made on the
day, such as a forged candle holder, a willow
basket or a wooden stool. The three-day
shoe-making course is particularly special,
as this is one of the few courses available
in the UK that takes beginners through
the complete process of making their own
unique pair of shoes.

Most of the courses are suitable for beginners
and they all take place in, or next to, the
purpose-built oak Training Barn at Stanwick
Lakes; prices start at £65 for a one day
workshop. The next programme of courses
starts in February 2016 and bookings are
now being taken via the project website at
www.tradingplacescrafts.org.uk

These public courses are a new initiative
being provided through Rockingham Forest
Trust’s ‘Trading Places’ project. The project
receives Heritage Lottery funding to work
with disadvantaged young people, giving
them a chance to experience the traditional
trades of the Nene Valley. Each young
person takes part in thirteen days of training
and many of them have gone on to gain
apprenticeships, further education and
employment.

www.rockingham-forest-trust.org.uk
www.stanwicklakes.org.uk