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Tag: thatch

A person with a cap and jacket, standing outside, holding a large pile of thatching material over their shoulder
Skills

How I became a Scottish thatcher

Tuesday 28 October 2025

Meet Troy Holt to discover how he found his way into thatching, what skills he has learned and why he is passionate about this critically endangered traditional craft skill.

A person wearing sunglasses and a checked shirt smiling while holding a large bunch of heather over their shoulder
Skills

How to pick heather for roof thatching

Wednesday 27 August 2025

In this blog Troy Holt, our former Thatching and Drystone Dyking Craft Fellow, shares a film about the little-known skill and explains how learning to pick heather might help Scottish thatching crafts thrive.

Freshly cut reed beds viewed from above, looking down directly on to a tightly packed series of reeds, looking like bunched straws.
Materials

Thatching Reed: supporting buildings and nature

Thursday 31 August 2023

We caught up with RSPB Tayside Reserves Warden Vicky Turnbull to find out more about the Tay reedbeds and how they support both nature and building conservation.

A large brick building with lots of windows
Materials

The traditional skills that built Scotland

Tuesday 27 August 2019

Discover the traditional skills that have been used for hundreds of years to create Scotland's historic buildings and how they're still being used today.

A villiage in the countryside with traditional thatched buildings
Conservation

Thatch Detectives: Searching for Scotland’s Thatched Buildings

Wednesday 23 May 2018

It takes a lot of determination and a little detective work to survey Scotland’s hidden thatched buildings. Join our technical research team to find out how they’re uncovering a fascinating part of the country’s built heritage, straw by straw!

The thatched roof of Cruck Cottage with a hole in it in need of repair
Materials

Grasping at Straws: Up Close and Personal with Thatch

Friday 4 May 2018

Our Technical Research Interns head to Dumfries and Galloway to document the fascinating re-thatching of a roof, and get to try it for themselves.

Thank you

The Engine Shed is accredited by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and National Open College Network (NOCN). The Engine Shed was supported by a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to share knowledge of traditional building materials, develop skills and raise standards in conservation for traditional buildings.

  • Heritage Lottery Fund

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Historic Environment Scotland is the lead public body established to investigate, care for and promote Scotland’s historic environment.

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