Established in 1980 with a view to preserving traditional rural skills while the men and women who had practiced them were still alive and able to pass them on

The Devon Rural Skills Trust

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Last updated on 10th July 2005


About our courses

Booking Courses
For booking and to check availability please contact the course co-ordinator or telephone 07786 441300 after 6.30pm

Course Fees
Fees for Trust members are £15.00 per day, non-members £25.00 per day

Refreshments
Lunches are not provided - you should bring your own food and a hot/cold drink
(On some occasions site owners/other members do provide refreshments but it is not guaranteed!)

Dogs
Find rural skills tricky/boring - please leave them at home

Cancellations
If for any reason you are unable to attend a booked course, or require further information prior to attending, please contact the instructor for that course
If a course is cancelled due to inclement weather, etc the course fees will be refunded or transferred to another date of your choice. If you fail to attend they will not!

Clothing and Footwear
Stout footwear, preferaby with steel toecaps and sturdy waterproof outdoor clothing are very important on all the courses, both for safety and comfort in our changeable weather

Tools
The tools listed below are used on various DRST courses. Some DRST tools will be made available but bring your own if you can, the remainder can probably be shared on the day

Hedge Steeping
Billhook
Bowsay
Felling Axe
Beetle
Leather gloves
Pruning saw
Other useful items:
Digger / Two-bill shovel
Slasher
Ropes and Loppers

Wattle Hurdling
Bowsaw
Billhook
Mouldboard
Loppers
Mallet
Chopping block

Cleft Hurdling
Froe and Mallet
Shave Horse
Drawknife
Axe
Billhook
Twybil/chisel/knife
Nails and hammer
Mortice template
Pencil

Coppicing
Bowsaw
Billhook
Felling Axe
Mallet
Small digger

Stone walling, Stone facing and Turf Hedging
Digger
Shovel
Crowbar
Gloves
Beetle
Hammer
Steel toecapped boots
Other useful items:
Billhook
Bowsaw
Safety glasses/goggles

Cob walling
Shovel and fork
Digger