Author Archives: stevetomlin

Spoon carving course

My next spoon carving course for beginners and improvers is on 18th Oct 2025 at Chorlton in Manchester. During the day you’ll learn to use an axe and knives safely and efficiently to create your own unique cooking spoon from … Continue reading

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Scything course in Penrith

I took a trip up to Penrith yesterday to teach a scything beginner course for Cumbria Wildlife Trust. The group are managing a new site in the area and wanting to Scythe to manage their meadows and orchard. They picked … Continue reading

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Wooden hay rake making workshop

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

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

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

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?

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

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

‘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

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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