Art & Craft

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.

With funding from the Dorset AONB Sustainable Development Fund, the project began harvesting rushes from the River Stour four years ago. They soon learned the most effective techniques of harvesting and advice from Dorset Wildlife Trust ensured 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.

Traditionally these riverside rushes were used to make baskets, mats, chair seats and beehives. RushWorks has set up all sorts of activities to revive this craft and spread the skills around. Local school children have taken part with great enthusiasm - 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. Rush work days have also been held for adults with great success and will help sustain the rush work craft well into the future.