Scything training

There is a “Learn To Mow” course  arranged by the North Pennines AONB for the end of July – more details can be found for this event on the calendar. This course will be run under the expert tuition of Steve Tomlin so you can learn all the necessary skills to use and maintain a scythe safely and efficiently.

The focus of the ‘Learn to Mow’ course is practical skills and learning-by-doing to send people away ready to continue on their own. The course will cover the following topics:

•  Features and advantages of the Austrian scythe
•  How to set up the scythe to your size & adjust the blade
•  The ‘tai-chi’ mowing style for more efficient cutting and less stress on the body
•  Sharpening in the field
•  Peening the blade to shape the edge
•  Care & maintenance

About the instructor

Steve first learned to use a scythe in the Pyrennes in 2001. He is a founder member and Training Coordinator for the Scythe Association (Britain & Ireland) and has spent time in Europe working with scythe experts in Austria and elsewhere. He has taught several hundred people to scythe since beginning to teach in 2010 and is recognised as the leading scythe teacher in the UK.

In addition to his own courses in mowing and peening, he is an instructor for new scythe teachers, and has taught the use of the scythe for Natural England, the National Trust, Highgrove Estate, BBC Countryfile with John Craven and ITV’s Countrywise with Paul Heiney.

You can find out more by visiting his scythe blog at http://stevetomlincrafts.wordpress.com/category/scytherspace-2/.