Mastercrafts - Thatching

Monty Don celebrates six of the traditional crafts that built our nation and its heritage, ranging from thatching to stonemasonry. Under Monty's watchful eye, three hopefuls who are passionate about learning these trades are put through their paces by the country's leading practitioners of wood craft, metal work, thatching, stone masonry, weaving and stained glass. After six weeks of apprenticeship and hard labour, their work and achievements are judged by experts in their chosen field to see who has best mastered the craft. In the second episode, Monty Don meets three enthusiasts who are passionate about learning to thatch as a career change. Monty, who seriously considered becoming a thatcher, charts the students' progress and explores the fascinating history of each craft. Roofer Colin Wombwell, aged 36; arts therapist Kate Edwards, aged 40, and painter and decorator Sam Hare, aged 37, begin their intensive apprenticeship, undeterred by the gruelling schedule. Thatch used to cover half a million of the nation's roofs in 1900. But with only 30,000 thatched roofs now remaining, Oxfordshire-based master thatchers Matt Williams and Dave Bragg are now among just 1,000 thatchers left in the country. But with 25 years experience between them, Matt and Dave are well equipped to take on the rookies and teach them all they know. While Monty unpacks the importance of thatch in our nation's history, the trainees are taught the fundamentals of the craft - from learning how to bend the hazel spars that keep thatch on the roof, to packing and blending the straw correctly to ensure the roof remains waterproof, before being put to the ultimate test - laying a piece of thatch on an 800-year-old property. But the question is, is it good enough to stay there?