"Beautiful location. Excellent instructors" - Alan (Burford, Oxfordshire)

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Welcome to Cotswolds Rural Skills

The Cotswolds Rural Skills website is a one stop shop for training courses and competitions in a wide range of rural skills and crafts throughout the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. By working with local instructors, organisations, community groups and landowners we ensure that these courses are not only informative and practical but also make a noticeable and lasting contribution to the Cotswold landscape. So whether you want to try your hand at blacksmithing, stone carving, rebuild a 200 year old dry stone wall, or have a go at the ancient art of thatching, then one of these courses could be for you! Booking online is easy just click on the course you're interested in, register and pay.

Update: 5th November 2020

Having considered the new lockdown guidelines, we have decided to cancel our planned Rural Skills courses between now and the end of December 2020. This is for the safety of our participants, trainers, and landowners. It is also to avoid non-essential travel. We are hoping to reschedule courses for early 2021.

If you have a place booked on a course affected by this decision, we will be in contact to discuss options and find a way forward.

Please email ruralskills@cotswoldsaonb.org.uk with any queries.

Upcoming Courses

Winter Tree Identification **PROVISIONAL DATE - MIGHT CHANGE**

12th January 2021 - Westonbirt Arboretum, near Tetbury, Gloucestershire, GL8 8QS

A fantastic one day course focusing on basic identification of native broadleaved trees in the winter season, involving a combination of field identification and class-room learning

Woodland and Bushcraft introduction

16th January 2021 - 17th January 2021 - West Ruggers Green Wood, Nailsworth, Gloucestershire

Spend two days - with the option of staying overnight - in the woods, learning a range of bushcraft skills and techniques!

Winter Tree Identification **PROVISIONAL DATE - MIGHT CHANGE**

16th January 2021 - Westonbirt Arboretum, near Tetbury, Gloucestershire, GL8 8QS

A fantastic one day course focusing on basic identification of native broadleaved trees in the winter season, involving a combination of field identification and class-room learning

Winter Tree Identification **PROVISIONAL DATE - MIGHT CHANGE**

20th January 2021 - Westonbirt Arboretum, near Tetbury, Gloucestershire, GL8 8QS

A fantastic one day course focusing on basic identification of native broadleaved trees in the winter season, involving a combination of field identification and class-room learning

Woodland Coppicing

23rd January 2021 - Voltaire's Wood, Gloucestershire

Suitable for anybody with little or no experience of coppicing.

Winter Tree Identification **PROVISIONAL DATE - MIGHT CHANGE**

30th January 2021 - Westonbirt Arboretum, near Tetbury, Gloucestershire, GL8 8QS

A fantastic one day course focusing on basic identification of native broadleaved trees in the winter season, involving a combination of field identification and class-room learning