Steve Tomlin Crafts

Sharpening a scythe left handed

Posted on July 16, 2016 by stevetomlin

Although all the Austrian scythes I teach with and sell are right handed, they’re equally suited for use by people who are left handed. The scything action is very symmetrical so people have no problem using the scythe and, when you’re working together in a team, it’s important that everyone mows the same way so the windrows are all falling the same way.
I’ve taught dozens of left-handed mowers over the years on my scything courses including Neil on todays course in Cumbria. Here he is sharpening the scythe left-handed while using a post to support the blade for safety.

And mowing a lovely neat swath with his right-handed scythe.

A gorgeous summer day with a brilliant group. My next course will be at Greenwood Days near Derby on 8th August. There are still a few places left so if you want to learn to scythe to manage your meadow or orchard visit Greenwood Days or contact Peter Wood on 01332 864529 to book.

Posted in peening & sharpening, scythe courses, Scytherspace | Tagged Austrian scythe, course, left handed, sharpening | Leave a comment

Community Scything in the North-West

Posted on July 5, 2016 by stevetomlin

One of the nicest things about scything is that the lack of noise makes it a lovely community activity. Chatting while you work and seeing a huge amount of work done is a great feeling and how communities made hay in the past.
This month there are a couple of opportunities to get together to scythe with other people here in the North West. It’s a chance to mow some beautiful meadow grass while meeting like-minded folk and improving your skills.
15-16 July: Hay Time Party at Bell Sykes Farm – the Coronation Meadow for Lancashire (see poster for details) Contact Peter Blackwell 01200 446609
21 July: 6am Dawn Scything & Rustic breakfast at Brantwood House, Cumbria La218AD. Contact Sally Beamish 015394 41396. Mowing the shore meadow in preparation for the Outdoor Theatre events.

Posted in scythe festivals & events, Scytherspace | Tagged Brantwood House, community, Coronation Meadow, cumbria, lancashire, scythe | Leave a comment

Scything course on National Meadows Day

Posted on July 2, 2016 by stevetomlin

Today, events across the country have been celebrating our wildflower meadows and I had the pleasure of teaching a group of staff and public how to scythe at Marbury Country Park in Cheshire, funded by the Saltscape landscape partnership scheme and Heritage Lottery Fund.
After setting up the scythes and learning to sharpen, we went out into a fabulous meadow to mow a section that was inaccessible to machinery. Although the weather was threatening to turn we stayed dry cut a large area between us. While mowing, Dave spotted a bee orchid in the meadow and safely scythed around it. Cutting the grass with a scythe makes you so much more aware of the plants in your meadow so individual special plants are noticed and can be safely left intact. This was especially nice for me today as I’d never seen one of these flowers before.

The rangers plan to continue using scythes to manage this meadow so it continues to develop. It’s a lovely place that seems to be a hidden gem so if you’re in the area, go pay it a visit.

Posted in scythe courses, Scytherspace | Tagged Austrian, Cheshire, course, meadow, orchid, scythe, wildflower | Leave a comment

Scything in Northumberland

Posted on July 1, 2016 by stevetomlin

A few years ago I was teaching scything courses in the North Pennines AONB as part of their wildflower meadow project. Last week I was invited back to the north-east to teach a bespoke group course for Lizzie who was one of the students during that project. She is still regularly using her Austrian scythe and decided it was time to get the rest of her family and some local friends trained up as well.
We were based near Hexham at Peter and Fransje’s field with wonderful views and lush, thick grass which they make into hay for a flock of about 40 sheep. Peter was also already an experienced mower and, like Lizzie, was keen to have Fransje trained properly as well as get some tips to improve his own mowing.
We had a terrific day of learning and mowing, cutting a huge area of grass just ahead of the weather breaking. Though not ideal, the rain won’t spoil the grass while it’s in the windrows and I’m sure a good bit of Northumbrian wind will soon dry it nicely for hay.

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Posted in scythe courses, Scytherspace | Tagged Austrian, course, hay, meadow, Northumberland, Northumbria, scythe, scything | Leave a comment

Learn to scythe in Scotland

Posted on June 28, 2016 by stevetomlin

Every year I enjoy travelling across the border to Scotland to teach my Learn to Scythe courses. It’s a country I love and a real treat to travel through on my way to great hospitality and gorgeous meadows.
I will be teaching courses on mowing with an Austrian scythe for beginners at two venues in July and August this summer:

Dumfriesshire: 17 July at Hillend Farm, Auldgirth. Contact Steffi Shaffler steffi.schaffler[at]gmail.com 01387 740945
Fife: 13 or 14 August at Sheardrum near Stirling. Contact Ali Hibbert info[at]sheardrum.com 01383 852991

I can also travel to teach you or a group at your own venue on a date to suit you. Please email me stevetomlin8[at]gmail.com for more details.

Posted in scythe courses, Scytherspace | Tagged Austrian, course, learn, Scotland, scythe, workshop | Leave a comment

The Russian peasant's workout

Posted on June 26, 2016 by stevetomlin

Take 5mins today to read this lovely article written by my friend Jez Hastings for the New York Times which captures the beauty of scything.

Working slowly and deliberately, with little noise, allows me to be part of nature, rather than striving against it. It’s a dance of sorts. The dance of the mower and the grass.

Posted in Scytherspace | Tagged hay making, Islay, Scotland, scythe | Leave a comment

National Meadow Day in Lancashire

Posted on June 23, 2016 by stevetomlin

National Meadow Day is on 2nd July and, if you’re in the North-West I would strongly recommend you pay a visit to Bell Sykes Farm which has the Coronation Meadows for Lancashire and some of the nicest land I’ve ever scythed. The homemade teas are also amazing.

Posted in Scytherspace | Tagged Coronation Meadow, lancashire, meadow, scythe, wildflower | Leave a comment

Learn to Scythe in Staffordshire

Posted on June 20, 2016 by stevetomlin

I am teaching a Learn to Scythe course for Staffordshire Wildlife Trust on 3rd July. We will cover everything you need to know to start using an Austrian scythe to manage your own land including how to set-up, sharpen and mow comfortably. You’ll also have the opportunity to buy and take home the scythe kit you’ve used, ready to start mowing with.
More information is available on the Wildlife Trust’s website, to book a place contact Nicki Dyas Tel: 01538 381356 n.dyas@staffs-wildlife.org.uk

Posted in scythe courses, Scytherspace | Tagged Austrian, course, scythe, Staffordshire, Wildlife Trust | Leave a comment

Scything around trees

Posted on June 10, 2016 by stevetomlin

One of the more common uses for the scythe is around trees in an orchard or newly planted woodland. Strimmers are infamous for killing young trees by stripping the bark because you can’t see exactly where the string is.
With a scythe you are much more in control and can place the blade so it will cut neatly around a tree without damaging it or the plastic tree guard.

Posted in Scytherspace, scythes | Tagged orchard, scythe, trees, woodland | Leave a comment

New spoon carving, big spoon carving

Posted on June 8, 2016 by stevetomlin

Eight more students joined the spoon carving world recently when I taught a course for Greenwood Days near Derby. On my courses, you’ll learn to choose timber and how to carve using an axe and knives to makes spoons directly from a tree. It’s an exciting and full day so I always forget to take photos during the course but love a group picture of everyone with their work.

Peter, who runs Greenwood Days, makes a big pot of wonderful soup with homemade bread each day for lunch but I noticed he didn’t have anything suitable to stir it with. So, I made group-sized stirring spoon for him and all the future courses. Next time you’re there keep a look out for it, it should develop a lovely patina over the years.
I will be teaching some more courses this year at Greenwood Days including a two-day spoon carving course on 9 & 10th August 2016 where we’ll look in more details at making spoons and have more time for practise and discussion. Book a place if you’re interested in learning to carve spoons yourself or think it would make a good present for a friend. Sign up to my newsletter to receive details of future courses and other projects I’m doing.

Posted in greenwood courses, spoon carving, SteveTomlinCrafts | Tagged 2016, course, green woodwork, learn, UK, workshop | Leave a comment