The Cotswolds Conservation Board has unveiled two brand new websites for rural skills courses and activities across the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

The new websites, Cotswolds Rural Skills and Escape to the Cotswoldshave been developed by Refractiv to complement the existing Cotswolds AONB website.

Cotswolds Rural Skills is designed to provide a one stop shop for people interested in learning a new traditional craft or skill. One-day and two-day courses are available in a range of subjects including dry-stone walling, grassland ecology and management, thatching and blacksmithing. Courses are also available in ‘map & compass’ to help navigate the Cotswolds countryside.

As well as providing comprehensive details of courses and annual rural skills competitions, the website enables easy online booking plus the purchase of gift vouchers for courses.

The website is not only a central resource for courses offered by the Conservation Board, but also allows other providers such as colleges, community groups and local authorities to promote their own courses.

Escape to the Cotswolds is designed to provide information to help visitors plan their next escape to the Cotswolds AONB. The website has easy-to-access details of walking routes, free guided walks, cycle rides, horse riding, events and festivals, as well as information on places to visit including towns, villages and attractions. The website also provides forms so that users can submit an event or guided walk.

“We are very happy with the two new websites that Refractiv has developed for us, which complement our main website, providing a suite of comprehensive online information for the Cotswolds AONB.”
Nicola Greaves, Information & Interpretation Officer