The public will have a chance to try their hand at traditional building and craft skills at the Heritage Skills Festival at Souter Lighthouse, Sunderland, 23-25 September.

Souter Lighthouse is where the Heritage Skills Initiative (HIS) is running ‘Taster Days’ in stonemasonry as part of its efforts to reduce the heritage skills shortages it has identified in the area.

Visitors to the Heritage Skills Festival will also have the chance to try blacksmithing, pole lathe turning, rag rug making and felt making and will be able to hear talks and lectures, meet craftspeople, engineers, professionals, organisations and heritage contractors, taste and buy traditionally brewed ale, discover training and education opportunities and get advice about historic buildings.

TV daredevil and Heritage Skills Initiative patron Dr Jonathan Foyle will also be there to abseil down the lighthouse. All in the setting of this beautiful National Trust coastal property – and it’s FREE!

Initiated by the North East Heritage Environment Forum and hosted by the North of England Civic Trust (NECT), this is part of the Heritage Skills Initiative (HSI) programme to tackle skills shortages in the region.

For more details contact NECT on Tel: 0191 232 9279 or visit www.nect.org.uk/heritage-skills-initiative.