成人论坛

Are blacksmiths extinct yet? Glassblowers?

Not if you head into the north of the county, where the Dorset Centre for Rural Skills is leading a campaign to keep traditional skills alive.

Inside the straw-bale building, you'll find a working blacksmith, glassblower as well as traditional builders who work with straw and mud instead of bricks and mortar.

The centre runs courses and events on rural skills, from lime days to hurdle making and pottery parties.

"These skills used to be passed on from generation to generation, and from one craftsman to another. That isn't happening anymore," explains Nicky Mullen from the centre.

"We're already suffering a skills shortage - if it wasn't for centres like this the skills might be lost entirely."

Glassblowing

成人论坛 Dorset went to meet Emsie Sharp, a glassblower who works at the centre.

Having trained with Venetian glassblowers, she now creates beautiful coloured glass bowls, glasses and ornaments.

"It's a very intense process. Everything happens so quickly and you have to concentrate the whole time if you don't want to smash what you're making."

Emsie spends much of her time standing in front of a furnace, where the temperature soars to well above a 1000 degrees.

As soon as the molten glass emerges, she shapes it immediately using a pad of wet newspaper, while wearing an old sock on her arm to help protect herself from the heat.

Title: Emsie the Glassblower

Film maker:	Claire Price
Length:	1 minute
Date:	October 2007

Blacksmithing

Salt is a blacksmith at the centre. With dreadlocks and a cheeky grin, he's quite different from what you might imagine a blacksmith to look like.

With little demand for handmade pokers and gate railings, he spends most of his time teaching beginners, who want to see how this ancient craft works.

He's also a popular attraction at festivals, such as Glastonbury, where his workshops attract crowds of enthusiastic onlookers.

Title: Salt the Blacksmith

Film maker:	Claire Price
Length:	1 minute
Date:	October 2007