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Stone is the oldest construction material known to mankind and remains an important means of enclosing fields in the British countryside today. Dating back to at least the Iron Age between 1200 BC and 332 BC; dry stone walls are a common feature in rural districts. Along with hedgerows, they are the most popular field boundaries, creating the traditional pattern of fields and lanes that epitomise rural England. Dry stone walling is most often found in the southwest, the Lake District, the Pennines and the northeast. It is also found in much of Wales and Scotland in the Highland zones.   How were dry stone walls originally constructed? Although they might vary slightly in different locations, these traditional walls are built using some common techniques: first, a narrow trench is cut and a base of small stones is laid within it; the wall is then built in progressive layers of stones, without using cement; the centre is filled with rubble or small stones; a layer of through stones is placed across the whole width of the wall at a height of around 2 ft to tie it together – through stones distribute the weight of the wall above them evenly to ensure it sits properly on the section of the wall below. Usually topped with a row of vertical or slanting stones, if the wall is continuing up a steep slope, the stones will usually be laid horizontally and not parallel to the slope. In some dry stone walls, through stones are set flush, so the face of the wall is flat. In others, they protrude through the face of the wall. It is argued that the latter construction technique is not as durable, as sheep can use them as a foothold to get over the wall, while cattle may rub against them, destabilising the wall. However, both building techniques seem to last, so there is no definitive argument that one is better than the other in terms of longevity. Early dry stone walls surrounding fields in Cornwall date from the Iron Age and are believed to be among the oldest in the UK. They have a slightly different construction technique: the fields are surrounded by earthen banks combined with large boulders and topped with smaller stones and more earth to finish off the wall. Dry stone walls must have openings for livestock. In the older designs, a traditional opening, known as a "sheep creep", was used. This is a square opening in the lower part of the wall only. They can be made with removable layers of stone so the livestock can pass through. Walls with larger openings known as "cow creeps" for constructed for cattle to pass through. In modern times, a more up-to-date version of a dry stone wall has developed, incorporating posts and gates, making it easier for the livestock.   What was the original purpose of the walls? While dry stone walling is mainly used to enclose fields and keep livestock in, the ancient building technique dates back to prehistoric times. Dwellings found on the Shetland Islands and in the eastern Mediterranean are built with similar dry stone construction. The roots of the technique go back to at least the Iron Age and possibly earlier. Less popular in the Dark Ages from 476 AD to 1000 AD, the Anglo-Saxons who settled in the lowlands used different agricultural techniques. In the medieval period, dry stone walling became more popular again, particularly in Highland areas. The technique was also used for monastic houses at this time, particularly Cistercians' monasteries in remote locations. Many of these medieval walls can still be found today, in places such as Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire. Dry stone walls are much more than features of agricultural landscapes. They are a link with history and a legacy of the changes in English society, as it moved away from Feudalism towards enclosing common farming and grazing land. When individual landowners began raising sheep and cattle, rather than growing crops, they enclosed the land that had once been used "in common" by all the inhabitants of a village. This meant their right to use the common land was lost. Landowners enclosed their fields and often evicted the villagers in favour of keeping sheep there instead. The majority of the dry stone walls found today date from the post-medieval move toward enclosures. In some areas of the Highland zone, the walls are irregular in shape and appear to be of a rougher build. Historians believe they would have enclosed small farms dating from the late medieval period to the 16th century. Walls that enclose larger fields usually date from the 16th and 17th centuries. The walls at the highest slopes enclosed the large sheep-grazing areas of the 18th and 19th centuries, when Acts of Parliament prompted the great Enclosure Movement. These walls often continue for many miles across the landscape and tend to be the most regular build. They can span even the most forbidding countryside landscape.   How important are the walls to the countryside? Dry stone walls were very important to the countryside, particularly in years gone by, because they provided a cheap way of constructing boundaries for the farmers' fields. They were inexpensive due to the plentiful supply of stone across the country. Also, the labour was cheap, hence the vast amounts of dry stone walls in Britain. Today, more people are beginning to appreciate our traditional heritage. Combined with greater environmental awareness, dry stone walling is now a highly respected craft. The craftsmen and women capable of constructing them will ensure the art is never forgotten.   How much do farmers benefit from the wall remains? The government's scheme of Countryside Stewardship funding is available for farmers and land managers who wish to restore and maintain the dry stone walls on their land - important not only for stock management but also as landscape features. Environmentally friendly, they are made purely from stone, without cement or mortar. Farmers and landowners who have dry stone walls on their land must check their condition at least once a year; remove any excessive vegetation to "air" the wall and reduce the risks of frost damage, and carry out necessary repairs using local stone. They must also prevent trees from growing too close, as the roots can weaken the foundations. Dry stone walls must not be knocked down, nor any stone removed from them, except in exceptional cases. Farmers should contact the Dry Stone Walling Association on 01539 567 953 for more information. A wildlife haven in its own right; a dry stone wall also provides different microclimates. For example, small mammals such as field mice, shrews and hedgehogs might live at the base. Higher up, birds such as robins, redstarts and even owls may be found nesting within the wall. It can also be used as a perch by birds of prey.