Tag Archives: wildflower meadow

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. … Continue reading →

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Scything in Highfield Country Park

Posted on July 6, 2021 by stevetomlin

I’m loving how many projects in Manchester are getting interested in using scythes to manage their land. I was invited this week by Friends of Highfield Country Park to lead a couple of evening demonstrations and have-a-go sessions for local … Continue reading →

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Scythe training in Cumbria for wildflower plantsman

Posted on July 5, 2021 by stevetomlin

Martin contacted me wanting to learn to scythe at his site in Cumbria where he has started to grow wildflower meadow plants in a nursery at his home. Meaburn Wildflowers is based up in Dufton where Martin has a beautiful … Continue reading →

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York Gate Garden scything course

Posted on July 1, 2021 by stevetomlin

I’ve been in Leeds teaching the team of gardeners at York Gate Garden how to scythe in their wildflower meadow. I’d never heard of the garden but it’s a beautiful, hidden gem in the north of Leeds and absolutely immaculate … Continue reading →

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Lawn vs meadow article

Posted on March 20, 2021 by stevetomlin

Fantastic to see so many organisations getting on board with the idea of converting lawns to wildlife-friendly wildflower meadows and this getting coverage in the Guardian. The RHS, some National Trust estates and King’s College, Cambridge are among those quoted … Continue reading →

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Wildflower meadows in the Guardian

Posted on January 30, 2021 by stevetomlin

Lovely article in the Guardian this week about the value of wildflower meadows, the work being done to preserve them and how you can create a meadow on even just a small patch of land. Of course, once you’ve established … Continue reading →

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Winter scything course

Posted on November 16, 2019 by stevetomlin

My scythe season normally runs from May to October with the majority of courses taking place in the spring and summer. However the scythe is a tool suitable for managing all kinds of vegetation and which can work in any … Continue reading →

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Scything at Preston Park on Teesside

Posted on July 30, 2019 by stevetomlin

It was lovely to spend the day with the new rangers team at Preston Park, near Middlesbrough in the north-east as they learned how to scythe. The team are looking to start managing their wildflower meadow by hand to increase … Continue reading →

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Scythe course in Northampton

Posted on July 21, 2019 by stevetomlin

A few weeks ago I travelled down to Northamptonshire to teach a group how to scythe at Rushden Lakes, a nature reserve managed by the Wildlife Trust. The reserve is on the edge of a retail park which made for … Continue reading →

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Bell Sykes Farm: wildflower meadows, haymaking and scything

Posted on July 13, 2019 by stevetomlin

It’s great to see my friend Peter Blackwell and his family getting the recognition they deserve for their work managing the hay meadows Bell Sykes Farm at Slaidburn in Lancashire. The meadows at Bell Sykes are wonderful wildflower habitats and … Continue reading →

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