A basic weekend course starts at 9.30 am on the Saturday, finishes about 4.00 pm on Sunday and requires no prior experience of walling. By the end, you should be competent enough to repair those gaps in your own wall!
During the weekend you, alongside other participants, will take down and re-build a length of wall under the expert eye of a qualified instructor. All tools are provided and Branch members will also be on hand to help.
It is physical, but anyone of average fitness can take part and it is very satisfying to have your photo taken by the finished wall – you can genuinely say ‘I did that’!
Please see our Events page for further details of our Courses over the forthcoming year.
What’s covered in a weekend course?
- Health and safety
- Use of tools
- Preparing the site
- Laying foundations
- Building the walls to full height
- Finishing off or ‘coping’ the wall
Our courses are very practical: over the two days you will take down and rebuild a section of dry-stone wall. You work at your own pace and there is plenty of opportunity for discussion. Courses are limited to 12 participants per instructor to ensure you get plenty of individual attention.
Our sites are ‘real’ walling environments where your work will remain to contribute to the landscape for many years to come, and not just be rebuilt by the next course.
All tools are provided, but you should wear heavy duty, non-slip gloves and safety boots (ideally steel toe capped – big rocks, height, toes and trainers are not a good combination!). Waterproofs and a hat are advisable and remember sunscreen during the summer. Tea, coffee and biscuits are provided, but you should bring a packed lunch each day.
The weekend costs £120 (for courses in 2025). We also offer gift vouchers (valid for two years).
- 26-27 April 2025: Donkey Down, Sutton Poyntz, Weymouth
- 5-6 July 2025: Donkey Down, Sutton Poyntz, Weymouth
- 20-21 September 2025: Sea Spray, Spyway, Langton Matravers, Swanage
- 26-27 April 2025: Donkey Down, Sutton Poyntz, Weymouth
A free course place is offered to an individual meeting one of the following criteria:
- Currently unemployed (the Branch wishes to support people into employment)
- Veteran of the Armed Forces (the Branch wishes to thank those who have served our Country)
Individuals will be required to provide evidence of their status.
Interested? Please use our Online Course Booking Form, or contact Peter Curtis on dorsetdswa@gmail.com or tel: 07748 982316. We will then get back to confirm payment arrangements and further course details.
Alternatively, you can book by post, including payment by cheque. Just print out the form below and send the completed copy to:
Peter Curtis:
1 Serrells Mead Cottage
Serrells Mead
Langton Matravers
Dorset
BH19 3HU
Please reserve ____ places(s) on the course to be run
on ___________ (date) at _____________________ (venue)
Name: ________________________________________
Address: _______________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
Telephone (evening/weekend): ____________________
Emergency contact number:
e-mail: ________________________________________
My dry stone walling experience is best described as:
___ None ___ Slight ___ Moderate ___ Experienced
I enclose a cheque for £ ____ (£120 per person) made payable to
“Dorset DSWA”
Bank account transfer payment can be arranged on request.
Signed: _________________________________________
Please note when we issue the course joining details, nearer the date of the course you will be sent the RISK ASSESSMENT for the working area. At the beginning of the course you will be asked to sign to confirm that you have read the assessment .
Please read the following
The Branch reserves the right to cancel any course which is not viable – wherever possible participants will be offered a place on an alternative course or given a full refund, but this will be at the discretion of the Dorset Branch Committee.
If you wish to cancel your booking where possible we will try to transfer you to an alternative course. Reimbursement of the course fee is at the discretion of the Dorset Branch Committee.
Refunds – please note that we are happy to provide refunds but cannot make refunds in cash. A Bank transfer or cheque can be arranged by our Treasurer through the booking officer. We ask you to recognise that we are not a multi-national company or have a finance department and therefore getting a refund to you may take a little more time than you maybe use too.
Please also be aware that many of our walling sites are in remote locations, though where possible, we provide basic ‘Portaloo’ facilities .
The Branch reserves the right to cancel any course which is not viable – wherever possible participants will be offered a place on an alternative course or given a full refund (Please read the refund section at the end of the booking form), but this will be at the discretion of the Dorset Branch Committee.
If you wish to cancel your booking, where possible we will try to transfer you to an alternative course. Reimbursement of the course fee is at the discretion of the Dorset Branch Committee. Please read the refund section at the end of the booking form.