Obs: Euro rules threaten Britain's thatched-roof landscape
Sufaud
Juliette Jowit, environment editor
Sunday October 31, 2004
The Observer
They are quintessentially English; the picture that adorns a million
chocolate boxes. But the quaint tradition of thatched roofs on country
cottages is under threat from the European Commission.
There are 50,000 thatched cottages in England and more in Wales and
Scotland, many of which have survived centuries of exposure to the elements
thanks to their long-straw wheat roofs.
In recent years short varieties of wheat, which yield better grain crops,
have increasingly replaced the long-straw type. These modern wheats need
nitrogen and other chemicals to help them grow and stay pest-free, which
also makes them bad for thatching because they rot more easily.
Experts estimate that fewer than one in five thatched roofs is now being
replaced with straw. The rest are being covered mainly by water reed - often
imported from eastern Europe or China - or triticale, a modern cross between
rye and wheat.
This problem is exacerbated by local authorities not insisting on
like-for-like replacements when roofs are rebuilt, critics claim.
Attempts to save Britain's traditional thatched roofs are being thwarted
because European rules ban farmers from buying or even being given the old
long-straw organic wheat seeds they need to start growing traditional
thatching straw.
Some fear the old roofs could soon be all but lost, as they have been in
mainland Europe. 'I'm quite pessimistic,' said Jack Lewis, a recently
retired thatcher. 'It's a steady drip, drip, and after a while it might tip
over.'
Originally, all thatching in Western Europe was done with straw except
pockets in areas where water reed grew, such as Norfolk. Up until 100 years
ago, dozens of varieties of wheat were grown 'to meet this demand.
Now there are just two varieties approved by the European Commission and
British government which are close to long enough for thatching - and even
they are 'second best', said Lewis.
The list dwindled because not enough was done to keep farmers growing longer
varieties for thatching, so there was not sufficient demand; but some
critics claim seed companies now have a vested interest in preventing them
being relisted because they would not profit from royalties for such ancient
strains.
John Letts, an Oxford-based archaeobotanist, now believes that at least 60
per cent of roofs are replaced with water reed and 30 per cent with
triticale.
'It's a huge threat,' said Letts. 'Not having access to the older varieties
is really helping people to shift to the water reed and triticale.'
Most people would not notice the difference, but traditionalists say that
the new materials often don't last as long and are destroying the natural
richness and diversity of the old roofs.
'You could say that about so many historical buildings - 99 per cent of the
population won't see it - but you're cutting out the history frankly,' said
Chris Wood, a senior architectural conservator with English Heritage.
Lewis and others are pressing the Department for Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs to allow old wheat varieties to be grown again, which they say would
also help struggling farmers who want to diversify.
Others believe that the planners need to be stricter about insisting on
traditional materials - with the government's lead. 'We think demand will
lead supply,' Matthew Slocombe, deputy secretary of the Society for the
Protection of Ancient Buildings, said.
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,6903,1340195,00.html
John of Aix
> Euro rules threaten Britain's thatched-roof landscape
Another completely misleading article. The thatched rooves will remain,
can be replaced and can be created. The only rules are on what reeds can
be grown and used for them. It is typical example of the woeful state of
the British press