Land Manager's Diary: Read it here>

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If you fancy joining us to learn a traditional skill, you can find more information in the workparty section of our website>. Watch some footage of wallers at work at Mazonwath last year: Watch timelapse footage of a walling day last year>

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This week it’s dry stone walling week for our trusty volunteers over at our land at Mazonwath (pictured below), east of Orton. The art of dry stone walling is an ancient rural craft and has been going on for centuries. It is said that a good wall can stay up 100 – 200 years. Dry stone walls are one of the main features of our Cumbrian landscape, and the differing geology and styles across the area are a key thing that gives a sense of local distinctiveness. Not only do the walls give an area a real identity but they give shelter to stock, and a home for wildlife, especially frogs and voles, but also a place for lichen, mosses and small beasties to live. 

Friends of the Lake District has been championing the traditional rural skills of dry stone walling and hedge laying for decades via our annual Hedging and Walling Competitions. However, with the purchase of land at High Borrowdale and Little Asby in 2002 and 2003 respectively, we have been able to be much more active with our dry stone wall training. At present we can offer a day a month of walling over at Mazonwath. We have been working there now for some years to completely rebuild an internal wall. The rock is limestone and varies from huge boulders to what volunteer Jean describes as cornflakes. i.e. tiny bits of stone that disintegrate when you pick them up! Another feature of the limestone at Mazonwath is the sheer number and range of fossils. 

Walling is not for everyone. It is often likened to putting a jigsaw together. Some people settle into the groove and the mindset of the slow pace looking for the right shaped stone. Others get extremely frustrated and walk away. But, if you stick at it, there is nothing better in satisfaction terms than seeing a section of wall rebuilt and feeling that connection with the past, our predecessors and our heritage, walling in the same place and same style as previous generations and incumbents. Mazonwath also has amazing views, wide open spaces with a real feeling of space, but not so good when you spy the next band of rain coming your way… 

If you fancy joining us to learn a traditional skill, you can find more information in the workparty section of our website>

Watch timelapse footage of a walling day last year>