Lovely feedback from my recent spoon carving workshop at Chorlton in Manchester. The course has been selected by Eventbrite as part of a national campaign to promote workshops and activities around the UK – hopefully I’ll have more news on that in future.
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Scything on a slope is one of the most common questions I’m asked about during my Learn to Scythe courses. This summer, the ranger at Hassall Green Nature Reserve in Staffordshire asked if it was possible for me and a couple of their trained volunteers to scythe a steep bank of rough vegetation on the site. I think the photos, including the before and after shots, speak for themselves.
Visit my Learn to Scythe page for details of this year’s training courses.
If you’ve had your scythe for a few months (or longer) now, it’s probably time to peen the blade. This can be a daunting prospect the first few times you do it but is an important part of scythe maintenance and will improve how well it cuts dramatically.
This year I will be delivering a peening and sharpening workshop on 7th Oct at Broadrake, Chapel-le-Dale in Yorkshire. You’ll spend the day learning to use the peening jig confidently and develop your sharpening and honing skills to achieve the sharpest blade and the sweetest cut.
To book your place or for more details, email stevetomlin8[at]gmail.com
Here’s some feedback from a previous participant:
Greetings Steve!
Just a quick note to say many thanks, this time, for a fantastic peening course. I learned masses. Before the course, I was very suspicious that it would be impossible to spend a full day sharpening a piece of metal and remain interested. I was wrong. The course was great fun, the company excellent, and I continue to realise that I have masses still to learn. Thanks for what you did. BrilliantThanks again, Steve. Yesterday was a first-class occasion.
Best wishes
Richard
I’ve been teaching people how to hone their scythe blade while kneeling for many years. This method is much safer than standing and allows you to work more accurately and effectively.
This week, I was demonstrating and came up with this small modification to make it easier for beginners. Rather than holding the blade by the handle, the left hand works down the blade with the right hand, providing additional support for the blade and also marking where the last honing happened to ensure better coverage of the edge. Obviously, care needs to be taken to only hold the blade by the rib. Try it and let me know if it helps.
At the peak of last week’s heatwave, on the hottest day of the year (so far), I was at Gibside in Co Durham teaching a Learn to Scythe course for the National Trust ranger team.
Apart from trying not to melt in the heat, we had a brilliant day scything the wildflower meadow as well as looking at how to use the scythes to manage steep banks and rougher vegetation. The scenery and company were worth the long journey and high temperatures.
I’ve just spent two days teaching a beginners scythe course for the Groundworks volunteers at Silverdale Country Park in Staffordshire. The site has several mini wildflower meadows which are managed by scything and make a perfect venue for the training.
During the days, the participants really had chance to perfect their mowing technique as well as learning how to peen the scythe blade for optimum sharpness. If your volunteer group would like to start using scythes, email me stevetomlin8[at]gmailcom for details.
I’m really pleased that, after a couple of years break, I will be back teaching a spoon carving course in Manchester.
The workshop takes place on 16th Oct 2022 at Chorlton in south Manchester. During the day you’ll learn a range of safe, effective axe and knife skills to make your own unique cooking spoon from local, fresh wood.
Places are limited, booking via Eventbrite: Spoon Carving in Manchester
The Northern Scythe Festival and Meadows Day take place on Sat-Sun 2-3 July 2022 at The Gathering Fields, Swainshead Hall Farm, Over Wyresdale, LA2 9DN
Read my post about the 2021 Northern Scythe Festival
I’ll be there on Sun 3rd and will have some scythe kits available to purchase
More details at https://www.forestofbowland.com/national-meadow-day-2022
A flock of my carved fanbirds are currently part of the Flights of Fancy exhibition at The Beach Hut Gallery at Grange-over-Sands in Cumbria.
A lovely day last weekend teaching a spoon carving workshop for a group at Greenwood Days near Derby. We always start from a green log so people work through the whole process of splitting, axing and carving to create a unique spoon and learn all the skills needed to continue the hobby afterwards.
I have more spoon carving workshop dates coming up in locations around the UK. If you can’t find something to suit you, please contact me to discuss organising a private course for yourself or a group of friends.
