Alan Jones is no ordinary thatcher. He is an expert on regional styles and materials and is a pioneer in producing superior quality thatching wheat and water reed.
This series of short films is about sustainability. These days it happens to be cheap and convenient for thatchers to buy imported reed from the Far East. But the quality is poor and the roofs don't last. A good thatched roof should last 30 years.
Alan has been cutting water reed beds (subject of this film) for 30 years, as well as developing wheat crops for thatching - "they said you couldn't grow wheat crops in mid Wales". This pioneering approach has to be economically viable as well as good for the ecology and environment. In this series of films we will be following Alan through the development of his crops, through to the thatching of buildings.
Useful links:
www.artisanco.com
www.thatchingwales.co.uk
1 мар 2012
