Author Archives: stevetomlin

Fan bird carving instruction pdf

If you want to learn how to carve fan birds, I teach fan carving workshops and also have an instruction pdf available in my etsy store. The Fan bird carving pdf download takes you through the step by step method … Continue reading

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Learn to scythe book review

Although it is always best to learn practical skills in person, I recognise that not everyone is able to attend one of my Learn to Scythe courses. The next best option is to learn from my Learn to Scythe book … Continue reading

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Hay Time at Hebden Bridge 2024

Hay Time at High Hirst Sunday 21st July – Sunday 4th August 2024 Experienced and/or enthusiastic scythers – and especially SABI members! – are keenly invited to help us mow our whole meadow this year. Join us for a day … Continue reading

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Spalted birch eating spoon with ball finial

In between teaching courses, I’ve been doing a little spoon carving with some gorgeous spalted silver birch. The patterning in the grain makes each spoon beautifully unique with natural decoration. On this teardrop shape eating spoon, I carved a ball … Continue reading

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Scything course review 2024

Lovely review from Caroline who was part of the group learning to scythe on my workshop in Cumbria. Thanks for an absolutely brilliant course on Saturday – it’s one of the best things I’ve done in ages and having worked … Continue reading

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What’s the best scythe for a beginner?

Whether it’s for controlling the nettles and other weeds around your allotment, clearing an overgrown patch of garden or larger-scale mowing in a meadow or orchard, the Austrian scythe is a wonderful tool to use. I always sell scythes as a … Continue reading

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Beginners scything course in Cumbria

Summer is finally here and I enjoyed a sunny day with this group at Brigflatts Meeting House in Sedbergh, Cumbria. I’ve been teaching scything courses for beginners at this site for 10 years now and it’s always a treat to … Continue reading

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Hay Rake making workshop in Staffordshire

An action-packed day with Groundwork West Midlands teaching a group how to make wooden hay rakes at Silverdale Country Park. We started by cleaving a green ash log for the rake heads and stripping the bark off some straight hazel … Continue reading

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Manchester meadows

Another damp day didn’t spoil a great Learn to Scythe course at Highfield Country Park in Manchester. Local volunteers came to learn and help manage the ‘meadow rooms’ that we’re creating on the site. There’s a growing Manchester scything scene … Continue reading

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Yellow rattle in urban meadow

I’ve been working with some local volunteers at Highfield Country Park in Levenshulme, Manchester to manage a few areas to try and create small meadows to enhance the biodiversity. Last autumn, we sowed yellow rattle seed which I’d collected from … Continue reading

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