Time, once again, for the ‘dawn mowing’ at Brantwood, former home of John Ruskin. Last year, Sally Beamish invited early-rising north west scythers to join her in the beautiful lakeside hay meadow, to mow and prepare for the first outdoor theatre event. A now legendary rustic breakfast followed, and for some, a refreshing dip in the lake.
The dawn scything takes place on Sunday 15th July, meeting for a 6am start if we can, outside the Hoggis Barn opposite the Visitors car park. Camping is an option for those who would find this helpful to make the early start. If you would like to join us in mowing and breakfasting, please let Sally know in advance for catering and camping numbers. If you would like to bring some food to share that is always most welcome, adding a feel of rural community to the event.
Sally Beamish
Estate Manager The Brantwood Trust, Brantwood, Coniston, Cumbria. LA21 8AD Tel: 015394 41396 E-mail: sally@brantwood.org.uk
I was most keen to develop the actual teaching elements of the course. Being able to mow well is important for a teacher but how you put across your information is equally vital for students to benefit. I wanted to show the new teachers the methods I’ve developed through my own teaching for things like setting up the scythe and attaching the blade, sharpening and organising the group in the field. I encouraged them to practise some of these moves so their own demonstrations would become smoother and clearer and we discussed the value of repetition during courses as well as pre-prepared teaching aids.
Also new this year was a section on how to assess beginners and advise them to improve their technique. Christiane and I spent a lot of time beforehand thinking how we could do this and came up with a couple of exercises. For the first, I had some fun preparing a ‘demonstration swath’; thrashing around in the grass to replicate the most common problems of a new student. We then showed how the pattern left in the grass can indicate what is going on and be used as a diagnostic tool. On my own courses this allows me to often understand a students problem even before I see them mowing and makes it easier to give them the best advice to improve. It’s sometimes hard for new teachers to see what is to adjust on someone else’s scythe so to help we gave them a basic set of possibilities that they could work through and then they practised by observing each other.
Simon covered the history of the scythe, blade angles and models and gave an impromptu dancing demonstration with Christiane while the peening was once again covered by Phil. All through the two days of course each of us was able to add things and comment on all the sections and people commented that, beyond being a course for teachers, it was a fantastic opportunity to learn from the four of us.
I’ve got a fully-booked ‘Learn to Mow’ course tomorrow with a group of beginners coming over to Cumbria to learn to use a scythe. So today I’m peening the blades in preparation. When you come on one of my courses I want you to have the best learning experience which means providing good tools and materials. I’m fortunate at Sprint Mill to have some lovely meadow grass to cut and by peening the blades I can ensure the scythes are in tip-top conditions.
Thankfully this year the weather was with us and the sun shone though strong winds in the week leading up to the event had left the long, thick grass lying over and somewhat tangled. That’s not going to stop several hundred enthusiastic mowers though, many of whom wait all year for this wonderful event to talk about their very particular passion and compete in what is generally considered to be the UK Scythe Championships.
Having made the mistake of entering last year, I was once again recruited into the Northern team. Paul and I had the tough job of mowing a 5m wide section between us but put in a very solid finish. How we actually did in the competition is anyone’s guess since nobody thought to time our race against the South but the East of England was generally considered to have won overall.
With all of the adrenalin and excitement of this still inside me, I found myself entering the time trials for the individual event and, worse still, making it through to the finals! The men’s event was once again dominated by Simon Damant of Cambridgeshire who took the cup not only for the 5x5m race but also in the new 10mx10m event.
For the ladies, Andi Rickard retained the cup for the third year with an ecstatic Beth Tilston in well-deserved second place. This year’s Quality Cup was won by Chris Riley, Mark Allery put in a solid effort to win the English scythe event, John Fenn was the veteran’s champ while Michael Hastings was named Young Mower of the Year and will surely be beating many of us in the years to come.
Working with the AONB, he wants to help raise the profile and celebrate the marvellous hay meadows in the North Pennines and the work of the farmers and smallholders who look after them day-to-day to ensure their survival. “With 8 weeks still to go till the event, ‘our’ meadow at Low Way Farm is already beginning to burst into life after the sheep and lambs have been moved up to the fell. Looking very colourful with the first flush of buttercups, red clover, yellow rattle and pignut – all good upland hay meadow indicators – are also starting to appear.”
Participants on the course will be able to enjoy a stay on the farm and delicious farmhouse cooking to help keep their strength up! As part of the event there will be a display of old haymaking tools, equipment and books and an illustrated after dinner evening talk on the hay meadows of the North Pennines by former Teesdale vet, Neville Turner. For those who then want to sample some real ale there is a great pub, the Strathmore Arms (
As well as the course we are organising the 1st Northern Open Scything Competition which will be run, 
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