The Heritage Lottery Fund says that many of Britain's conservation skills are endangered, 'putting the fabric of our heritage at risk'.

Sustaining our Living Heritage, a study undertaken by HOST Consultancy for the Heritage Lottery Fund explored the skills and training needs of the UK's heritage sector and found a range of 'missing skills' such as stone masonry, flint knapping and hedging.

Liz Forgan, chair of the Heritage Lottery Fund called for a radical shift in attitudes: 'We need to become more 'skill-literate.''

Heritage Information, a website service due to be launched later this year has won a third grant from the public sector of £365,000, The service aims to connect skilled suppliers across Britain with those who are in need of their skills.