England's Thatching Industry Faces Material Shortages and Machinery Woes
The thatching industry in England faces challenges due to material shortages and outdated machinery. The war in Ukraine has exacerbated the scarcity of water reed, a key material, while vintage machinery struggles with unreliable performance and hard-to-source parts. Historic England is exploring solutions to improve cereal straw harvesting and processing.
Traditionally, long straw was the primary material for thatching, but since the 19th century, water reed has become more prevalent, now used on over half of thatched buildings, predominantly in the South-West, South-East, and East of England. However, 97% of water reed is imported, with some coming from Eastern Europe, leading to supply issues.
The industry is also grappling with poor harvests due to unpredictable weather and labour shortages since Brexit. Despite the challenges, there are 25,000 listed thatched buildings in England, with many more unlisted or new. To address these issues, Historic England is investigating ways to make harvesting and processing cereal straw more efficient and profitable, potentially reducing reliance on imported materials.
The thatching industry's future depends on addressing material shortages, improving harvesting efficiency, and exploring domestic cultivation of thatching materials. This could benefit the environment by reducing carbon emissions and ensuring the preservation of England's unique thatched heritage.
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