Refugees learn ancient dry stone walling skills in the Peak District
National Trust rangers and the British Red Cross have joined together to offer people escaping war and famine-torn countries a chance to learn a new skill.
Recently ranger Mark Bull took a group from Eritrea to a field near Froggatt where walls had been damaged by deer and livestock, and taught them how to rebuild and repair.
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Hide Ad“Some of them actually knew the basics straight away. It was obvious they’d done it before,” he said.
“One of the men, Samson, said it was very similar to walls he’d made back in Eritrea.
“Samson and the team got a lot more done than I’d expected, and I think they really enjoyed it - they were singing while they worked.”
Another group from Sudan have also been helping rebuild walls.
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Hide AdThe British Red Cross helps hundreds of people in South Yorkshire who either have refugee status or are awaiting results of asylum applications. The charity leads English classes and helps refugees learn about life in the UK and contribute to the community at a time when they are not allowed to work.
Sarah Sonne, from the charity, said: “They like to volunteer to use their time to do something useful. It’s also great to have that connection with the Peak District, which is very close to where many of the people live, but is often inaccessible to them due to lack of knowledge or confidence or resources.”