Short Introduction:

Making Shepherds Crooks and Walking Sticks is an age old craft across Europe, especially so in Wales where agriculture has been largely based on sheep farming for many centuries. There are many styles and techniques and here we show you three - a traditional shepherd's crook made with a ram's horn, a thumb stick made using deer horn and walking sticks made only of wood.

Dei (a short way of saying Dafydd or David) has been a shepherd all his working life, mostly on the high mountain farms of Snowdonia around Capel Curig. All the shepherds use some form of stick, ususally a crook, in their work with their flocks of sheep. The other key tool the shepherds use are their well trained and faithful sheepdogs!

Recording this method will be a great way to save the skill as it is one that is under threat. In fact since this skill has been shown to members of our groups, at least three people are interested in learning more and want further instruction. It is really one of those skills that you learn best by getting on and doing it, getting better as you practice.

It is a skilled craft but it is one that is possible to learn, it is a quiet craft for doing on wet days or in winter, not one to be rushed!

Written by Haf Roberts