The 7th Natural Stone Show, being staged at ExCeL, London, 14-16 March 2006, has an impressive range of visitor attractions planned to enrich the visitor experience.

There will be a series of demonstrations encompassing cladding (fixing), interiors (tiles and worktops), mortars (pointing and paving) and flooring (screeds and underfloor heating).

Specialist conservation based processes are also being planned, including dry stone walling and repointing with lime mortar.

There is a special Conservation Area where experts from English Heritage, Historic Scotland, the Dry Stone Walling Association and the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) will be among those available to discuss issues with visitors. Here, too, there will be working demonstrations of craft skills throughout the three days.

The Stone Federation Great Britain village will, as ever, be centre stage. Leading members of the Federation will be on hand to provide advice and guidance to visitors on all aspects of stone selection, fixing and maintenance.

Stone Federation will also be presenting their highly acclaimed RIBA CPD-accredited Stone in the City seminars to provide help and guidance on the use of natural stone in construction today.

Finally, the Natural Stone & Building Conservation Conference will be running alongside the show.

Following the success of its launch at the Natural Stone Show in 2004 when 633 delegates attended, the 2006 conference will maintain its broad focus on both New Build and Conservation with the objective of bringing together under one roof all of those who have an interest in the design and use of stone as a building material.

The Conference is being organised in conjunction with the main show supporters: Royal Institute of British Architects, Stone Federation Great Britain, English Heritage, Natural Stone Specialist and the Architects\' Journal.

Show Director Richard Bradbury emphasises that the Natural Stone Show offers visitors, especially from the architectural and design community, not just a chance to see stone but to understand it.

"Stone is up there with glass and steel as a modern construction material," says Richard. "If it\'s not on an architect\'s palette or in a developer\'s vocabulary they are depriving themselves of a vital ingredient in so many award-winning projects. And there is no greater opportunity in the UK of learning about the latest developments in the use of stone than visiting the Natural Stone Show."Not that stone is only used for new build. A measure of its versatility and a reason for its popularity now is that it is a material proven over millennia - and is still used to repair and restore the greatest buildings of the past."Even though the roots of stonemasonry stretch back into the mists of antiquity, it is a measure of the vibrancy of the industry today that there is always so much new to discover at the Natural Stone Show - new sources of stone, new machinery for working it, new ways of fixing it and repairing it."Neither should the importance of renewing old acquaintances and allegiances be underestimated, nor the excitement of rediscovering traditional materials."

With stand sales for the next show currently running four months ahead of schedule, the 7th Natural Stone Show is already showing all the signs of being another record breaker.

To book your stand, contact:

Richard Bradbury

Tel: +44 (0)115 945 3889

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