JAY Blades, of BBC’s The Repair Shop, will be among the attractions at his year’s Craft Festival Bovey Tracey.

He’ll be presenting a collection of makers drawn from the ‘Red List of Endangered Crafts’, celebrating some of the fascinating skills which are in decline but can be still be saved.

Rare crafts on show will include specialist makers in wall paper making, willow furniture making, lithography and fairground painting.

The heritage crafts celebration is just one aspect of the award-winning festival which returns to the parkland setting of Mill Marsh Park, Bovey Tracey, on June 9-11 in what is its 19th year.

At the heart of it will be some 200 of the finest makers from all corners of the UK, handpicked for their quality and originality, who will gather in the Dartmoor town.

Visitors can experience craft demonstrations, a showcase of start-up business, adult workshops, children’s activities, film screenings, talks, music and feasting.

An eclectic programme of craft workshops for adults and younger people will be hosted by professional makers to encourage participation and deeper understanding of making.

A free children’s craft activity programme will encourage creative experimentation lead by makers and educators including Jim Parkyn, local schools and inspirational craft organisations.

Last year more than 8,000 visitors visited one of the biggest craft fetivals in Europe.

‘We attract over 500 applicants to exhibit at Craft Festival. It’s a challenging and rewarding task for our independent panel to select just 200 to take part,’ said Sarah James, director of Craft Festival. ‘The quality of application is phenomenal.

‘For 19 years, we’ve created a retail platform for the finest makers, and a launch pad for new crafts business in our showcase “Start-Up”.

‘Craft Festival also features an education programmes for adults and children with workshops lead by professional makers.

‘The fun, action packed children’s programme aims to inspire younger people to get creative, get hands on and try out a new craft skill,’ she added.

► For more information about this year’s festival visit, www.craftfestival.co.uk/boveytracey