Sustainable Development Fund 961.44 Kb - the Dorset AONB

Productive Landscapes…crafts
RushWorks
RushWorks is a project researching,
celebrating and reviving the traditional
rural craft of ‘rushing’ which was
practised in the Sturminster Newton
and Marnhull areas until the 1950s.
The project began harvesting rushes from
the River Stour with advice from Dorset
Wildlife Trust to ensure it didn’t disrupt
wildlife. The first harvest generated much
local interest and a Rush Festival was
organised to celebrate it as part of the
Sturminster Cheese Festival.
crafting a rush animal proved a great
medium to find out about the river, its
wildlife and the history of rush working.
RushWorks found that teaching rush
making to children has echos of the past -
records show that formal rush work
classes were run for children in the early
1900s. Together with written records,
video clips and stories from local rush
working families, they are piecing
together a fascinating picture of their
rush working past.
Traditionally these riverside rushes were
used to make baskets, mats, chair seats
and beehives. Allsorts of activities have
been set up to revive this craft and spread
the skills around. Local school children
have taken part with great enthusiasm –
Rush work days have also been held for
adults with great success and will help
sustain the rush work craft well into
the future.