Category Archives: Scytherspace

Peening bench/ station

At the peening workshop, I discussed the importance of having a good peening station for your work. For consistent, accurate peening everything needs to be stable and solid with the force of the hammer blows being transmitted down to the … Continue reading

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End of season peening & sharpening workshop

On Sunday I ran a peening and sharpening workshop for members of the NW mowing group at Haybridge Nature Reserve in response to a request from one of the members and my own observations at our recents meetings. It’s also … Continue reading

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Apple Day 2010

Inspired by our meeting in the orchard at Sprint Mill, I organised a stand at this year’s Apple Day at Acorn Bank near Penrith. One of the organisers, Sara Braithwaite, told me that over the years the event has grown … Continue reading

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Film of reaping demonstration

Memories are perhaps fading of the wonderful weekend at Bouth in Cumbria (see Ian’s entry below of 21st September). So here’s a short video of part of it – the Sunday afternoon at Old Hall Farm open day. It features … Continue reading

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Mowing the Orchard at Sprint Mill

Yesterday a small group of the North-West mowers met up at Sprint Mill, just north of Kendal. Edward and Romola, our hosts, have been working their unique smallholding together almost entirely by hand for nearly 20 years. Deeply connected to … Continue reading

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Sheaf Fork

I would deny being a tool geek but I do like old tools, know a bit about them and am constantly amazed by the ingenuity of folk  who worked by hand in designing efficient tools for specific jobs. This is … Continue reading

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Excellent Scything at the September Hay Bridge Event

At least 15 enthusiastic scythers enjoyed an excellent weekend of scything at Hay Bridge Nature Reserve. Many thanks to Paul for getting it together, Keith and Helen for hosting us (beer and barbeque particularly appreciated) and Steve for giving impromptu lessons in … Continue reading

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FAO cradle in action

One thing with mowing is that it’s really difficult to take a photo of yourself so more thanks to the Webster family for the pictures they took during their vintage weekend in August. Here’s the FAO cradle in action, showing how it … Continue reading

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Cradle trials for harvesting wheat

Clear blue skies, old tractors and a field full of wheat greeted me for my mowing demonstration over the bank holiday weekend. Margaret & Andrew Webster, with their family and David White had done a fantastic job of putting together … Continue reading

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The Cumbrian Scything Challenge!

The first Cumbrian Scythe Festival back in July was probably held on the wettest weekend of the year, but it still managed to attract nearly twenty people for Saturday’s beginners’ scything course. Quite apart from imparting the joys of mowing … Continue reading

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