A SHOWCASE festival demonstrating traditional and ancient building techniques is being held as part of a drive to bring 40,000 new workers into the heritage skills industry over the next decade.

It is believed to be the first festival of its kind held in the north and will bring together stonemasons, blacksmiths, oak framers, roofers and leadwork and plastering experts, as well as specialists in woodland skills such as willow weaving.

Organised by the Heritage Craft Alliance, which is based at Thorp Perrow Arboretum near Bedale, the aim is to give the experts the chance to show off their skills and talk about their areas of specialism to inspire people to train and get involved in the industry.

Glenn Young, managing director of the alliance, said: “We want to promote awareness of the different types of traditional skills training available through demonstrations with opportunities for children and adults to participate.

“We also want potential students, apprentices and individuals considering a career change to learn about training courses.

“We need to ensure people understand that we must promote these skills now so that they aren’t lost forever, in turn threatening the buildings and structures that we live in, work in, worship in, and visit. We want to create futures in our built heritage.”

Mr Young said there is a desperate need to ensure young people are trained and educated in traditional skills techniques, technology and material.

He added: “The need for conservation and restoration will always be there and with the average age of many of the existing traditional workers being over 50, it’s not hard to see why we need to do this now.

“In ten years we will need to have replaced 40,000 skilled craftspeople to ensure the sector can survive and that our built heritage can be cared for properly.

"Of course this also means that there will be plenty of jobs for skilled young people entering this sector.”

The alliance, which works with the National Trust and the Canal and River Trust, provides training for up to 1,000 students a year with many former apprentices working on some of the most important historic buildings in Britain including Durham Cathedral

The festival is being held from September 11 to 13 with admission included in tickets for the 80 acre arboretum, which has the biggest private collection of trees in the north.

For more information go to www.heritagecraftalliance.co.uk