Category Archives: Scytherspace

Highfield scythe workshop Manchester

People are often surprised to learn that I live in Manchester and how much scything takes place in urban areas. At Highfield Country Park, I’m involved in training local volunteers to help with managing the site. The first scythe training … Continue reading

Posted in scythe courses, Scytherspace | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Scythe training for Severn Trent in Staffordshire

I’ve spent the last couple of days training this lovely group of volunteers to scythe at Tittesworth Reservoir in Staffordshire for Severn Trent Water. We were dodging the rain while learning about aetting up an Austrian scythe, honing in the … Continue reading

Posted in scythe courses, Scytherspace | Tagged | Leave a comment

Haymaking poem by Bernadette Gallagher

I stumbled on this lovely poem by Bernadette Gallagher this morning and had to share it. Haymaking Who is it beckons me to try My hand and body with a scythe Is it someone that I know or is it … Continue reading

Posted in Scytherspace | Tagged | Leave a comment

Scything course in Cumbria

Very welcome cooler weather for the Learn to Scythe course at Brigflatts Meeting House in Sedbergh today. It’s a beautiful venue for the course and lovely to see the meadow changing over the years that I’ve been teaching and scything … Continue reading

Posted in scythe courses, Scytherspace, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Scything Manchester community orchard

The scythe isn’t just a tool for rural spaces, it’s also perfect for the small green spaces that are so important in cities. Just half a mile from my home is Levenshulme community orchard, a tiny space between rows of … Continue reading

Posted in Scytherspace | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Scything course in Leicester

I’ve been back to teach a Learn to Scythe course at the Saffron Heath project in Leicester. I came for the first time last year and it was such a success that they asked me back and I was happy … Continue reading

Posted in scythe courses, Scytherspace | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Scything course at Bell Sykes, Lancashire

A gorgeous day for the first Learn to Scythe course of 2023. We were based at Bell Sykes Farm in Slaidburn, Lancashire which is always a delight with beautiful wildflower meadow. 8 participants worked really well despite the hot day … Continue reading

Posted in scythe courses, Scytherspace | Leave a comment

101 Coronation meadows

Great news today in the GuardianGuardian that the Coronation meadow scheme has been successful in increasing the wildflower meadow habitat across the UK. I’ve been teaching Learn to Scythe courses at Bell Sykes Farm, the Coronation meadow for Lancashire for … Continue reading

Posted in scythe courses, Scytherspace | Tagged | Leave a comment

No Mow May 2023 Countryfile article

It’s fantastic to see how the No Mow May campaign has taken off over the last few years and is getting more and more attention. This lovely article on the Countryfile website gives lots of detail about the benefits of … Continue reading

Posted in Scytherspace | Tagged | Leave a comment

Scythe peening in the Guardian

A fantastic article in the Guardian this week about peening scythe blades. We’ve been promoting the use of the scythe in the UK for 18 years now and I love how it has gone from a very niche activity to … Continue reading

Posted in peening & sharpening, Scytherspace | Leave a comment