Scything skills put to use at Ham Hill

Our Green Estates Rangers and Climate and Natural Environment Officers have taken part in 2 scything training sessions at Ham Hill this summer, led by local scything champion Andi Rickard from Somerset Scythe School.

The sessions covered the anatomy of the Austrian scythe, including the handles, snath and blade, as well as how to safely dismantle, assemble and adjust the tool. Participants also learned how to cut effectively using smooth, flowing movements, and how to care for the blade through honing and peening to keep it sharp.

Despite the second session taking place on an exceptionally hot day, when the grass more closely resembled straw, both groups managed to scythe a significant area of Ham Hill.

Scything is quiet, low impact and does not need fuel, engine maintenance or heavy machinery. It can also be effective in wet conditions and is useful for cutting awkward areas, taller grass and tougher plants such as nettles and docks.

The Nature Recovery team now has 10 Austrian scythes to help manage awkward areas where machinery can be difficult to use. This low-impact approach will help the team build new skills while managing grass and meadow areas in a quieter, more environmentally friendly way.