Author Archives: stevetomlin

Scything courses 2024

Learn to scythe in 2024! Scything is a fantastic way to manage your garden, meadow, orchard or allotment. My courses are suitable for beginners and you’ll learn everything you need to use and maintain an Austrian scythe. Courses in Lancashire, … Continue reading

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Spoon carving workshops 2024

My spoon carving workshop dates for 2024 are now set and available to book with venues at Manchester, Derby, the Yorkshire Dales and N. Wales. During the day, you’ll learn to use traditional axe and knives techniques to safely and … Continue reading

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Ash splint basket workshop 2023

I’ve been teaching a lot at Greenwood Days recently, including an ash splint basket making workshop. Starting from raw splints as they come off the tree, participants learn to grade and prepare the material before we start weaving. We fit … Continue reading

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How to make ash splint baskets pdf

I love teaching ash splint basket making to groups but realise that not everyone can get to a workshop. To help you get started with this fantastic basket making material, I’ve produced a simple pdf download of instructions. The guide … Continue reading

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Spoon carving workshop for beginners

Spoon carving is a brilliant way to get into all kinds of wood carving. During my beginner’s courses, you’ll learn how to carve with an axe and knives to create a spoon right from a log to the finished product. … Continue reading

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Highfield scythe workshop Manchester

People are often surprised to learn that I live in Manchester and how much scything takes place in urban areas. At Highfield Country Park, I’m involved in training local volunteers to help with managing the site. The first scythe training … Continue reading

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Scythe training for Severn Trent in Staffordshire

I’ve spent the last couple of days training this lovely group of volunteers to scythe at Tittesworth Reservoir in Staffordshire for Severn Trent Water. We were dodging the rain while learning about aetting up an Austrian scythe, honing in the … Continue reading

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Haymaking poem by Bernadette Gallagher

I stumbled on this lovely poem by Bernadette Gallagher this morning and had to share it. Haymaking Who is it beckons me to try My hand and body with a scythe Is it someone that I know or is it … Continue reading

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Scything course in Cumbria

Very welcome cooler weather for the Learn to Scythe course at Brigflatts Meeting House in Sedbergh today. It’s a beautiful venue for the course and lovely to see the meadow changing over the years that I’ve been teaching and scything … Continue reading

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Scything Manchester community orchard

The scythe isn’t just a tool for rural spaces, it’s also perfect for the small green spaces that are so important in cities. Just half a mile from my home is Levenshulme community orchard, a tiny space between rows of … Continue reading

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