Thatching at 'danger point' due to straw shortage
Grower Robin Kurzaj warns that the traditional thatching industry is facing a critical shortage of straw and skilled labor. He calls for more apprenticeship opportunities to prevent the trade from dying out.
Why it matters
It highlights the struggle of traditional heritage crafts to survive in a modern economic and climate-challenged environment.
Image caption, Robin Kurzaj says the thatching industry is at "danger point" due to supply issues
A grower has warned the thatching industry is at "danger point" of dying without more young people entering the industry.
Thatching straw is a specific crop for the thatching of roofs, that requires particular skills to grow and cultivate.
Robin Kurzaj, from Billinghay, Lincolnshire, said factors such as climate change, maintenance of old machinery and labour intensive harvesting meant finding new people to learn a trade "that comes with huge risks", was getting harder.
"I get phone calls every week, basically crying out for thatching straw," he added.
Kurzaj, who learnt about thatching and the growing of thatching straw in the 1970s through his father, Joe, said he wanted to see more people getting involved, including through apprenticeship schemes.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in