International Peening Day 2022

Posted on April 1, 2022 by stevetomlin

Can you believe it’s the 10th anniversary of International Peening Day already? Although I’m still waiting for someone to make an official range of merch, it’s been brilliant to watch the idea take off since I started it in 2012. More and more local events are happening with scythers meeting to share skills and sharpen their blades ready for the season while eating cake.

 

This year, IPD officially takes place on 3rd April 2022. Rembember that it’s an ‘everywhere event’ meaning that, if there’s just you and some friends sharing knowledge or even just you and the cat, it’s still officially part of the celebration.

Check out the blog post from the historic 1st International Peening Day in Cumbria. Here’s to another decade of scything and peening.

peening an Austrian scythe peening a scythe

International Peening Day

 

 

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Learn to Scythe workshops 2022

Posted on March 21, 2022 by stevetomlin

Spring is here! Sunday was the Vernal Equinox and it’s great to feel the weather improving and the season turning. Leaves are appearing on the trees, the council have been out cutting the grass so scything season must be nearly here! My Learn to Scythe course dates for 2022 are set and booking up well already so please don’t wait until your meadow is knee high before you book.

During the one-day course, you’ll learn everything you need to set-up, hone and swing the scythe for efficient and ergonomic mowing.

Learn to Scythe Courses 2022

    • 28 May, Sedbergh, Cumbria
    • 2 June, Slaidburn, Lancashire
    • 22 July, Slaidburn, Lancashire
    • 5 August, Chapel-le-Dale, Yorkshire
    • 3 September, Sedbergh, Cumbria
    • 7 Oct Peening workshop, Chapel-le-Dale

To book your place, please email me at steve[at]stevetomlincrafts.co.uk

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Private spoon carving workshop in Manchester

Posted on January 15, 2022 by stevetomlin

Experiences make the best presents and even more so when they’re shared with friends so I was delighted to be asked to teach a private spoon carving workshop for a lovely group in Manchester as their joint Christmas present.

Starting with some fresh silver birch logs, we split, axed and carved out sine wonderful cooking spoons, each with their own unique character.

With lots of chat, laughter and learning, it was a fantastic way to spend the day and I’m sure there’ll be more spoons to come in the future.

I love passing on craft skills and have been teaching spoon carving since 2005. I can bring my tools to you for either a 1-to-1 or group workshop. Feel free to contact me to discuss your ideas.

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Ash splint flower basket commission

Posted on January 12, 2022 by stevetomlin

I recently finished this ash splint basket commission in time for Christmas. My client had seen a basket being used in an online video and asked if I could recreate it from a screenshot.

The basket is woven from english ash splints sourced from the National Trust’s Ilam Estate in Derbyshire. It measures 8″ wide and 10″ high with leather shoulder strap and brass buckle. Please contact me if you would like to order a similar basket or discuss your own ideas.

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Ash splint pack basket 2021

Posted on November 22, 2021 by stevetomlin

Here is the latest of my ash splint pack baskets which I’m super pleased with. The basket is 18″ high to the rim and 14″ wide at the belly. Woven from pounded English ash splints and fitted with veg-tan leather straps and brass buckles. Please contact me for further details.

I will be teaching ash splint basket making workshops in 2022. Please sign up to my newsletter to receive details as they become available.

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Rural skills weekend – scything demo in Staffordshire

Posted on August 25, 2021 by stevetomlin

On Friday I’ll be doing a scything demonstration and offering have-a-go sessions at Silverdale Country Park as part of their rural skills weekend. It’s a fabulous site and should be a brilliant event. Some of the activites require booking at http://groundworkwm-naturalneighbourhoods.eventbrite.com/

Hope to see you there!

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Wildflower propagation tutorial video

Posted on August 20, 2021 by stevetomlin

I first taught Rachel and Mike at Broadrake how to scythe in 2013 and over the years it’s been amazing to watch their meadow develop. A big part of that has been due to Rachel’s amazing propagation of wildflower species.

In this video Rachel shares her methods for collecting and growing wildflower seeds. It’s a fantastic resource if you’re trying to increase the diversity of your meadow using locally sourced seeds.

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Learn to Scythe in Yorkshire feedback

Posted on August 13, 2021 by stevetomlin

Lovely feedback from the Learn to Scythe course at Broadrake in Yorkshire this week.

Dear Steve – just a quick note to say many, many thanks for such an excellent scything course yesterday. It was truly wonderful, perfectly organised, and has made me realise that scything is a real skill. One cannot just purchase a scythe and expect, the next day, to be a perfect mower. There is a clear and definite talent to it, supported by plenty of practice, so onward and upward for me!

Best wishes.
Richard V
Hi Steve.
Just a quick note to say thank you for such an informative course you led at Broadrake on Thursday.
I thoroughly enjoyed it – it was well-paced and comprehensive and worth the drive down from Wester Ross! I’ll soon be having a go at the bracken when it’s a bit drier up here.
Kind regards,
Jonathan
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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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