While the March conference \'England\'s Heritage in Stone\' ended with some general agreement that we need a broad based body to match some of the initiatives taken now on a regular basis by the Scottish Stone Liaison Group, it remains for someone to take up the slightly daunting task of organising an English equivalent.

For Wales, the Forum that emerged from the Cardiff conference of 2002 is growing in confidence as it tries to bring together architects, planners and patriots concerned with the built environment in Wales.

The pattern adopted in Wales is relatively modest, relying on site visits to towns or monuments where the use of stone expresses a character of regional geology or traditional workmanship.

Good responses to the Forum have come from the National Parks in the Brecon Beacons and Pembrokeshire, which will probably lead to surveys and descriptive accounts.

Otherwise, street walks in the busy centres of Cardiff, Newport and Swansea strike closer contacts with the public in ways that would not have been achieved by even inspired lectures.

For 2006 the committee is planning a series of events once again open to anyone who cares to come, starting in March when Tim Palmer, from the Institute of Earth Studies at the University of Wales, will lead a foray to Dundry Hill and Bristol to explore the true character of Dundry stone, relatively large amounts of which were taken in medieval times to most parts of Wales accessible by sea and river.

In April, Llanberis will be the venue for a study of roofing materials, including non-slate stones. A long weekend based in Mold will study the sandstones of north-east Wales, probably in May, while July will see a city walk in Newport, the newest of the Welsh cities.

Details of all the Forum\'s events and of the aims of the organisation can be obtained from Stephen Howe at the National Museum & Gallery of Wales in Cathays Park, Cardiff.