FOLLOWING the success of last year's two day event, Cornwall Council's Launceston Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) is delighted to be working in partnership with English Heritage again to present a five day training event on the use of traditional building techniques in today's world from Tuesday, April 28 to Saturday, May 2 at Launceston Castle.

Local primary schools have been invited to the first two days of the event which will cater solely for pre-booked school parties. The demonstrations will be specially tailored for the younger generation and will involve grading sands, thatching and treading and building with cob. The visit for schools will also include a tour of the castle keep.

The next two days will cater for older students undertaking local construction courses and will provide a more intensive experience of working with traditional ­materials.

The event on Saturday 2 May will be open to everyone and presentations will take place throughout the day. Exhibitors include The Cornish Lime Company, Simon Parfett Cob Builder, Cornish Willow and the townscape heritage initiative team.

All exhibitors will be giving demonstrations of their trade and, for the more adventurous, hands-on experience can be had in the form of building with cob and making wattle and daub panels. So why not come along and have a go.

Lorna Lane, THI Project Officer, said: "We are particularly pleased that the event last year received high praise from those attending and that the response from schools this year has been so great that the event has grown from two days to five.

"It is very important to the THI to educate people on the use of traditional building techniques and materials and the benefits these can have, especially with older properties. We also want to promote an interest in this subject in the next generation.

We hope to do this by spreading the message in a fun and informal way, by encouraging a hands-on experience to learning."

The event on Saturday will start at 10am and is free of charge. The expert exhibitors will be happy to answer any questions related to their field.