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Heritage Crafts Red List Expands as 72 British Skills Now Critically Endangered

No new extinctions have been reported, but economic and training challenges threaten the survival of traditional crafts integral to Britain’s cultural identity.

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Crafters at Soane Britain are trying to keep rattan weaving alive in Britain at their workshop in Thurmaston, Leicestershire

Overview

  • The 2025 Heritage Crafts red list identifies 72 critically endangered crafts, up from 62 in 2023, with 93 additional skills now classified as endangered.
  • Newly added critically endangered crafts include Welsh thatching, ship figurehead carving, and crystal glass cutting, highlighting the growing pressures on traditional trades.
  • Rising operational costs, a lack of apprenticeships, and market pressures continue to hinder the transmission of these skills to new generations.
  • Government and private initiatives, such as Soane Britain's rattan weaving apprenticeship program, are helping to sustain and revive select crafts like pole lathe bowl turning and hazel basket making.
  • Despite the challenges, no new crafts have gone extinct since the last report in 2023, offering a glimmer of hope for preservation efforts.