A one day course suitable for absolute beginners
Unfortunately we've had to cancel the course on the 26th August
Apologies to all those who had shown interest - we will be looking to hold the course on another date - watch this space for more information
Following a successful scything course in the orchard last year, a few volunteers have been using their new skills to manage the grass, particularly around the soft fruit. We have arranged another course so that more people can learn the technique to use in their own gardens, in the orchard or on other projects. Open to all, no prior experience necessary!
At the moment there is a scything revival in Britain. This wonderful tool is a great replacement for the mower or strimmer. It produces no noise, vibration or fumes & is a joy to use. Scythes can cut tough plants such as brambles, bracken, nettles & saplings through to fine grasses, lawns & wild meadows.
This one day course covers:
- How to set up the scythe for your body dimensions
- Selecting the right blade for the job
- Altering the angle of the blade
- How to sharpen the blade
- How to mow with ease & flow!
- Later in the day we cover how to repair blades & have a go at ‘peening’ the blade with the peening jig.
Austrian scythes will be available to use but if you have your own scythe feel free to bring it along.
Our experienced tutor for the day is Andrea Gilpin, who also runs courses in her beautiful wildflower meadow near Presteigne, and teaches volunteers for the conservation charity Caring for God's Acre.
Thanks to the support of the Powys Transition and Low Carbon Communities network, we're able to subsidise the cost of the course. The fee for the day will be £20 if you live in Powys (£42 for others). Bursaries for the full amount may also be available for Powys residents if the cost is prohibitive - please contact us to discuss.
Teas and coffees and all necessary equipment will be provided.