Dry STone Walling WOrkshops

Making the most of the sunny weekend, we held a dry-stone walling workshop on the Afon Eden in collaboration with the local Young Farmers Club. This hands-on session was a fantastic opportunity for participants to develop new skills while actively contributing to a local conservation project.

Dry-stone walling is a traditional craft that has been practiced for centuries, with some walls in the UK dating back over a thousand years. Built without mortar, these walls rely on careful placement and interlocking stones for stability. They have long been used to mark boundaries, manage livestock, and protect crops from wind and erosion. Today, they remain an important feature of rural landscapes, offering both practical benefits and cultural heritage value.

While repairing and maintaining dry-stone walls helps preserve their function and character, leaving some sections unrepaired can be beneficial for wildlife. Gaps and loose stones create shelter for insects, small mammals, and reptiles, while lichens and mosses can thrive on undisturbed stones, supporting biodiversity. In upland areas, these walls can provide crucial refuge for species such as slow worms, toads, and even nesting birds. By carefully considering where to repair and where to leave space for nature, we can strike a balance between conservation and heritage preservation.

It was fantastic to get the Young Farmers engaged in learning this historic skill while making a real difference to the local environment. A huge thank you to everyone who took part!

This workshop was held as part of the Freshwater Pearl Mussel project in partnership with Eryri National Parc and Local Nature Partnerships.