Red List Comment Submission

Commenting on: Highlands and Islands thatching

Section one - About you

Section two - Description of the craft

If you are commenting on an existing craft, please select it here and skip the next two questions

Please enter the name of the craft you would like us to add here.

If this is a new craft type please select the most suitable category

Please identify country, region, county or town

Please identify country, region, county or town

Please identify an era/century/approximate historic period.

Heritage Crafts uses a system of four categories of risk to assess the viability of heritage crafts. A heritage craft is considered to be viable if there are sufficient craftspeople to transmit the craft skills to the next generation. For more information on definitions see http://heritagecrafts.org.uk/redlist/categories-of-risk/

Section three - Current numbers of those practising the craft in the UK

People earning their main craft income from this craft (selling, commissions, conservation/ restoration and/or teaching).

People practicing this craft commercially (selling, commissions, conservation/restoration and/or teaching) but as less than half of their income.

People acquiring skills in order to become a professional in this craft, they probably have to work under supervision even if they are earning money while training.

People whose knowledge and ability is at a level of the most skilled practitioners of this craft.

People who do not intend to practice this craft professionally or at the highest level.

Section four - Issues affecting the viability of the craft

Existing content:
  • Skills issues: There is a lack of training in heritage building skills and it is difficult to recruit trainees
  • Training issues: there is no financial support available to support training for thatching
  • Market issues: for financial and practical reasons, most home owners will opt for lower maintenance roofing options. Those that do choose thatch are tending to do it to attract tourists to rental properties, or because they are personally committed to preserving heritage building techniques and skills.
  • Lack of raw materials: Some of the traditional materials, such as marram grass, have been overharvested in the past and caused the erosion of sand dunes. Cutting of marram grass is permitted in some areas under tightly controlled conditions but it can still be difficult to source. Coir replaced hand-twisted rope in the late 19 th century; the appropriate grade is no longer available, and making rope by hand uneconomical. Cotton nets replaced hand-made netting in the 19 th century; this too is unavailable. Grain cultivation has markedly decreased, and when oats are grown they are varieties suitable for machine harvest; black oat has virtually vanished from farming.
  • Impermanence of materials: Highland and Islands thatching materials are less durable materials such as reed, which is now widely used for English thatch. It is a long term commitment and expense to manage a thatched roof and so they tend to be replaced with an alternative material.
  • Lack of awareness of traditional thatch: Native thatch styles are at risk by employing Lowland thatch materials and styles, mostly done out of ignorance of the impact of same. Cost is also a factor, where lowland materials are longer lasting and have more practitioners.
  • Growing of black oats: Efforts are being made in Shetland to revive the cultivation of traditional black oats for use in thatching and straw-related crafts.

 

e.g. lack of qualifications, funding for training etc.

If yes, please describe the issues below

e.g. lack of demand for products/skills etc.

If yes, please describe the issues below

Tick the box if there are difficulties with the supply of raw materials, allied materials or tools

If yes, please describe the issues below

i.e. issues around running any small business, not just crafts

If yes, please describe the issues below

Is the main workforce made up of people who are approaching retirement age?

If yes, please describe the issues below

e.g. legal restrictions on materials, health and safety etc.

If yes, please describe the issues below

e.g. Brexit, Covid-19, conflict

If yes, please describe the issues below

Please describe any other issues

Section five - Current Initiatives to preserve craft skills

Please describe any UK projects or schemes

Section six - Main players in the craft – please tell us who you know about

Please list any known practitioners of this craft — add a row item for each person or business and complete the fields to the best of your knowledge. To get started click the `Add practitioner` button below.

1
Add practitioner

Section seven - Optional additional information

It may include when and where the craft developed, how it has changed over time, etc.

e.g. festivals, religious celebrations, agricultural practices, music, dance etc.

e.g. religious, ethnic, social class. Please give an overview of the techniques involved in the craft.

This may involve different materials, techniques, styles or finished products.

e.g. books, websites etc.