Traditional crafts and methods of building are suffering as fewer youngsters are entering rural businesses and training opportunities dry up when traditional industries falter.

Now, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has given a lifeline of almost £7million in training bursaries to patch up the UK’s dying traditional skills such as thatching roofs.

With fewer than 40,000 craftspeople now properly qualified to help maintain the nation’s fragile historic environment, the money will help plug the huge gap between declining numbers of specialists and the growing needs of the nation’s heritage.

Millwrighting and reed-cutting, paper conservation and topiary are just a few of the skills that HLF partners will now be able to offer through traditional style apprenticeships, giving master craftspeople a rare chance to hand on their knowledge.

Sharon Goddard, Heritage Lottery fund policy adviser for education, said: "There is an urgent need for an initiative like this. Heritage skills are in real danger of dying out, yet an estimated 6,590 additional skilled craftspeople are needed to meet shortages for the UK's historic buildings alone."

"The Training Bursary Scheme is designed to lead the fight to keep these essential skills alive by expanding the pool of skilled people and laying the foundations for more heritage training schemes."

Despite being the best way of learning traditional skills, there are now very few accredited apprenticeships in heritage skills and diminishing numbers of experienced crafts people to train others.

Money is an issue for the sector too, as statutory funding is not available for work based learning other than accredited apprenticeships. At the same time, statutory funding is prioritised for under 25 year olds and for basic training, whereas many crafts people enter the profession mid-career and need specialist training.