The Devon Rural Skills Trust (Registered Charity No: 292969) was established in 1980 with a view to safeguarding the future of those traditional skills while the men and women who practised them were still able to pass on their knowledge.

During this time the Trust has trained thousands of people, enabling them to work professionally within the rural sector and provided many others with the skills and knowledge to practice traditional rural skills in their leisure time.

The DRST runs regular courses throughout the year and a training scheme to promote a variety of rural skills including dry stone walling, hedgelaying, coppicing and cob building.