Learn a new skill at Acton Scott Farm

Why not make a fresh start for 2013 at Acton Scott Historic Working Farm.

Starting from late January 2013, the farm will be hosting several traditional rural craft and trade courses over the coming months.  Courses include:

• Make a Sampler Patchwork Quilt – every Thursday, starting on Thursday 31 January until Thursday 21 March from 10am – 3pm each day.  This is suitable for both beginners and the more experienced.  Eight-week course is run by Stephanie Jacobs, a textile artist with a passion for rural crafts and an expert in patchwork and quilting. The course provides a great opportunity for students to learn all the skills needed to make a small sampler quilt.  Students will learn different techniques in traditional patchwork, applique and quilting.  Students will also learn how to make a different block (design), how to put the quilt together, place the borders on and the art of quilting.  The sampler quilt can be done by hand or machine.  This new course will take place in the fabulous oak-framed building at the entrance to the museum.  Cost for the 8-week course is just £220.
• Grafting Apple Trees – Wednesday 6 March from 10am – 3pm.  This one-day course is run by Paul Davies, fruit tree nursery owner from the Towy Valley in Camarthenshire.   The course is aimed at gardeners and smallholders and will cover rootstocks and their characteristics, grafting and budding.  Participants will be taught how to graft apple trees, how to plant a tree and protect it from animals and strimmers and learn how to prune a tree to make it a pleasant shape and fruitful.  After attending the course, you will go home with a grafted tree and the knowledge and skills needed to graft your own trees, prune and generally look after them.  Cost for the course is just £65.
• Oak Swill Basket Making – from Friday 15 until Sunday 17 March from 9.30am to 5.30pm – run by renowned oak swill basket maker Owen Jones from Cumbria, this three-day course covers all aspects of swill making, starting with oak and hazel in the round, cleaving, boiling and riving the oak, dressing and steam-bending the hazel rim or bool; and finally weaving and completing a swill.  The course is quite intensive but no previous experience in either basketry or green wood working is required.  All tools and materials are supplied.  Cost for the course is just £195.

The Acton Scott Historic Working Farm course programme can also be found on the website www.actonscottmuseum.com.  If you wish to find out more or book a place on any of the courses, please phone Acton Scott Farm on 01694 781307 or email acton.scott.museum@shropshire.gov.uk. The farm will reopen for visitors on 26 March 2013.