Thatching tradition struggling to survive in the West

Thatchers say their centuries-old craft is under threat due to a lack of training opportunities, funding shortages and difficulties sourcing materials. There are now no dedicated thatching training schools in England, meaning tradespeople must cover the cost of training apprentices themselves, something many say is no longer viable. Steven Hewlett, a third-generation thatcher from Salisbury in Wiltshire, said the system is failing young people who want to enter the trade. When his son wanted to join the family business, he found it "very tough" to get access to training or funding, "There's nothing in this country, no colleges for apprentices for rural crafts at all," he said. Hewlett, based in Salisbury, said it "wasn't an easy process" but he eventually managed to secure an apprenticeship for his son, Rudy, through his membership to the National Society of Master Thatchers. He was then directed to the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST), where Rudy successfully applied for funding. "We went up to London for an interview and he became a QEST apprentice," said Mr Hewlett. "But he still needs family support - it's not straightforward. For many thatchers, the cost of taking on t