Steve Tomlin Crafts

Aire Rivers Trust scythe course

Posted on August 4, 2021 by stevetomlin

I had a great day in Bradford teaching volunteers for the Aire Rivers Trust how to scythe in order to manage a new meadow which they are establishing.

Sam Riley-Gunn, the project officer sent this great feedback:

I can honestly say it was one of the best instructional sessions I have observed. To watch a master of his craft pass on his knowledge in such a clear and supportive way, is a rare thing to find.

If you are looking for scythe training for your volunteer group, please feel free to get in touch for details- email stevetomlin8@gmail.com

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Learn to Scythe place available

Posted on July 18, 2021 by stevetomlin

Due to a cancellation, 1 space is available on my Learn to Scythe course at Slaidburn in Lancashire on 23rd July.

To book, please email stevetomlin8(at) gmail.com

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Scything drone footage

Posted on July 9, 2021 by stevetomlin

Many thanks to Andrew Brown for taking this aerial footage with his drone during the scything improvers’ course in Cumbria

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Here is Martin on his first day of scything, easily cutting a terrific swath through the meadow. My teaching methods can help you learn to scythe easily and efficiently even if you are a complete beginner, visit my Learn to Scythe page for more details of courses

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Scything in Highfield Country Park

Posted on July 6, 2021 by stevetomlin

I’m loving how many projects in Manchester are getting interested in using scythes to manage their land. I was invited this week by Friends of Highfield Country Park to lead a couple of evening demonstrations and have-a-go sessions for local people in Levenshulme.

The community have been working recently on clearing brambles and planting to create a bee sanctuary and now are looking at managing some other areas to create wildflower meadows.

It was fantastic to see lots of people turning up to learn about scything, managment techniques for wildflower meadows and to have a go themselves. I’ve developed some special techniques where I can mow with someone so they get a feel of the movement and then gradually let go so they’re mowing on their own. It’s no substitute for a proper lesson but gets people excited and interested in the project.

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Northern scythe festival 2021

Posted on July 5, 2021 by stevetomlin

Congratultions to Peter Backwell and Sarah Robinson, champions of this year’s Northern Scythe Festival mowing competition. The event took place in the beautiful meadows of Bell Sykes farm which Peter farms and is the donor meadow for many other meadows under a Forest of Bowland AONB project managed by Sarah so they are worthy champions on many levels.

Like many of the competitors, Peter and Sarah spent the morning peening their scythe blades ready for racing. Sarah is well used to working with the peening jig and I was happy to give her some help and instruction on freehand peening the edge of the blade to get an extra level of sharpness. I am teaching a peening workshop at Bell Sykes on 10th Oct 2021 if you’d like to come and learn these skills yourself – email me for details.

Racing really isn’t my thing as I always get too nervous so I was pretty disappointed by my own efforts but it’s always exciting to watch and I managed to redeem myself a little by being part of the winning group in the team competition.

Mainly though, it was a chance to meet up with friends and enjoy being out in the beautiful meadow, working together and talking about our passion for scythes and meadows.

Posted in scythe festivals & events, Scytherspace | Tagged competition, peening | 1 Comment

National Meadow Day 2021 scythe training

Posted on July 5, 2021 by stevetomlin

I spent National Meadow Day 2021 in south Cumbria teaching a group some peening and scything improvers skills during a course organised by Arnside & Silverdale AONB and Plantlife. Several of the group had previously attended my Learn to Scythe course so it was great to see them again and know that they’re still enjoying working with the scythe.
We focussed the morning of peening the scythe blade to refine the edge for optimum sharpness. Recently I’ve been showing my students how, rather than a simple maintenance operation, peening is used to improve the cutting of their scythe for even easier cutting.
If you’d like to learn to peen your scythe for super sharpness, I am leading a peening workshop at Slaidburn in Lancashire on 8th Oct 2021 – please email me for details.

After lots of hammering and sharpening of the edge, we went out into the meadow and cut a huge amount of grass. Cumbria Wildlife Trust and Lesley, the meadow owner, are hoping to form a scything group to assist each other with work in the future – if you’re interested, you can contact Helen Rawlinson

Posted in peening & sharpening, scythe courses, Scytherspace | Tagged National Meadow Day | 1 Comment

Spoon carving workshop at Harrogate

Posted on July 5, 2021 by stevetomlin

What could be nicer than spending a day in the woods, making something and chatting with lovely people in between breaks for coffee and homemade food? My most recent spoon carving workshop was hosted by Kith Homestead, just outside Harrogate who have a beautiful setting and are wizards with a dutch oven!

We started the day with a fresh silver birch log and, using axes and knives the group turned it into a fabulous set of cooking spoons while learning the safe and effective skills to carve and create.

A wonderful setting with wonderful conversation, people and spoons. If you’d like to join me and learn to carve your own unique wooden spoon, visit my courses page or sign up to my newsletter for future dates.

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Scythe training in Cumbria for wildflower plantsman

Posted on July 5, 2021 by stevetomlin

Martin contacted me wanting to learn to scythe at his site in Cumbria where he has started to grow wildflower meadow plants in a nursery at his home. Meaburn Wildflowers is based up in Dufton where Martin has a beautiful nursery setup along with several acres of meadow in the family.

We spent a brilliant day together while Martin learned to mow, honing and peening the scythe blade for super sharpness and easy cutting. This will allow him to not only manage his own meadows but also advise his wild flower customers about the benefits and use of the scythe for managing meadows.

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York Gate Garden scything course

Posted on July 1, 2021 by stevetomlin

I’ve been in Leeds teaching the team of gardeners at York Gate Garden how to scythe in their wildflower meadow.

I’d never heard of the garden but it’s a beautiful, hidden gem in the north of Leeds and absolutely immaculate which is testiment to the passion and expertise of the gardeners and volunteers. Like the formal garden, the wildflower meadow was looking fantastic with a healthy crop of yellow rattle well-established and the first orchids showing their heads.

I was there for two full days of training meaning we had plenty of time to look at sharpening and mowing as well as for the team to peen their own blades which they were keen to do once I’d demonstrated how much better they would cut afterwards.

Brilliant days working with terrific guys who really worked hard and developed their skills so they were all mowing and peening well. I look forward to seeing how the meadow develops under their care, it’s sure to be stunning in the future.