Monthly Archives: July 2025

Wooden hay rake making workshop

Posted on July 31, 2025 by stevetomlin

A wooden hay rake is a brilliant craft that incorporates a lot of skills and techniques in a deceptively simple product. First we start by cleaving an ash log and shaving the heads on the shavehorse getting them as straight … Continue reading →

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Scything with toads and frogs

Posted on July 30, 2025 by stevetomlin

A meadow is home to all kinds of life and during the summer I see lots of voles, lizards, mice, toads and frogs. Scything is a much more wildlife friendly management tool. The lack of distraction from machinery noise and … Continue reading →

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Scything a meadow in Cheshire

Posted on July 28, 2025 by stevetomlin

Today I’ve been in Cheshire, scything a garden meadow for a client. The site is being managed as a wildflower meadow so I cut and remove the grass to reduce the fertility. I’ve cut this area a few times now … Continue reading →

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Peening a scythe blade

Posted on July 25, 2025 by stevetomlin

Learning how to peen a scythe can feel like a daunting task. Reshaping the edge of the blade by hammering it into shape with a peening jig can feel very technical and difficult and there’s often a fear of damaging … Continue reading →

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Can you scythe in the rain?

Posted on July 21, 2025 by stevetomlin

I’m often asked this question as the British summer doesn’t always guarantee long sunny days. The short answer is yes, the scythe has no problem with the rain and you can even work with it underwater if managing a pond … Continue reading →

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Hebden Bridge scything workshop 2025

Posted on July 19, 2025 by stevetomlin

I’m just back home after two days teaching a group how to scythe at Hebden Bridge for the High Hirst meadow project. During the workshop we looked at setting up the Austrian scythes, honing, peening and mowing technique for cutting … Continue reading →

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Scythers wanted at Hebden Bridge 2025

Posted on July 15, 2025 by stevetomlin

‘Hay Time at High Hirst’ Sunday 20th – Sunday 27th July 2025 Experienced and/or enthusiastic scythers are keenly invited to help a small, dedicated team of volunteers mow their c.2 acre meadow near Hebden Bridge this summer. You are very … Continue reading →

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Beginners scything workshop in Manchester

Posted on July 14, 2025 by stevetomlin

The Austrian scythe is a perfect tool for working in urban areas and I’m very proud of how many projects in Manchester are now working this way. At the weekend I taught a Learn to Scythe workshop for some beginners … Continue reading →

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Scythe course in Staffordshire 2025

Posted on July 14, 2025 by stevetomlin

It’s always a treat to be back at Silverdale Country Park training volunteers how to use an Austrian scythe. This year the weather was hot, hot, hot but the group did a fantastic job and I’m looking forward to working … Continue reading →

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Hay rake making workshop 2025

Posted on July 14, 2025 by stevetomlin

During this very hot summer weekend it was great to be in the shade of the woodland teaching a group how to make a wooden hay rake. We split and shaped the ash head and made teeth with my tine … Continue reading →

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