The plight of skilled craftsmen in this country has been well documented. With the Government's plans for new and eco-friendly housing, will there be enough people with the necessary skills to lime the walls of listed cottages or repair centuries-old panelling? A new initiative might be the answer. Funding to help craftspeople, trainees or career switchers is available through the Traditional Building Skills Bursary Scheme, set up as a partnership between English Heritage, the National Trust, Cadw, ConstructionSkills and the National Heritage Training Group, with backing from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Find out more about the Traditional Building Skills Bursary Scheme here
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The Country Life guide to Somerset: What to do, where to stay and how to eatSomerset is rich in natural beauty and history, but it is its wealth of small-scale food and drink producers, farmers and makers that really set it apart from the competition. Find out how to make the most of it all with our indispensable guide.
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How to make a gloomy city garden into a haven of colour and natureTiffany Daneff discovers how to transform a typically dark London back garden into a light-filled green haven that is always in use. Photographs by Clive Nichols.
