Forth Valley Traditional Building Forum was invited to participate at STEM at The Helix this year. This followed playing an active role in traditional building skills demonstrations in Falkirk town centre in collaboration with Falkirk Council, Falkirk Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI), Falkirk Delivers, Historic Environment Scotland and Forth Valley College.

As Falkirk THI came to an end last year, it had been decided by forum members that participating in STEM at The Helix on 17 & 18 May would be more beneficial rather than running a separate event.

STEM at The Helix invited schools from across Forth Valley area to participate with over 300 pupils attending the first day. The second day was a Family Day and the roofing demonstration was inundated with interest from children, parents and grandparents.

Sash & Case Window demonstration was kindly delivered by Forth Valley College and the Roof Slating demonstration by Rooftec (Scotland) on behalf of the National Federation of Roofing Contractors.

Pupils and families received mini-masterclasses in slate dressing and fixing and re-glazing a sash & case window.

The feedback from all those who attended the roofing demonstration was extremely positive with a significant queue on the Family Day as National Federation of Roofing Contractors delivered mini-masterclasses on slate dressing and those who participated got to take away their own slate coaster.