Opportunities to prepare for the coming mowing season and have your scythe questions answered!

Posted on 28th March 202128th March 2021 by Richard Brown

Opportunities for scythe-folk around the country to meet up face to face are still somewhat limited by the pandemic. But please don’t despair, things are looking better for the summer! In anticipation of this we have organised two spring events that can still run and connect people remotely via the wonders of internet technology. International Read more about Opportunities to prepare for the coming mowing season and have your scythe questions answered![…]

Peening day review 2019

Posted on 4th June 20194th June 2019 by Richard Brown

As a postscript to this year’s International Peening day (April 7th) I have been reviewing the wonderful diversity of peening pony designs. A number of scythers have kindly sent me photos of their many and varied set ups, (and I can add more if you want to send me your photos). Arrangements for peening of Read more about Peening day review 2019[…]

Peening Days

Posted on 16th April 201816th April 2018 by Richard Brown

International Peening Day, on the first Sunday of April, is a perfect opportunity to prepare and test blades on newly awoken grass in the meadow in readiness for the coming season. This is a personal blog post account of International Peening Day 2018. It was indeed quite a personal event for me, falling as it did Read more about Peening Days[…]

A Welsh Whetstone Holiday in Snowdonia

Posted on 24th August 201519th February 2017 by bethtilston

There is something particularly satisfying about the feel and action of a good natural stone which a coarse synthetic cannot match. Simon Fairlies’ article in Windrow 9 (Feb 2015) highlighted the endangered status of quality natural whetstones, particularly two favourite stones the Bregenzer and Rozsutec. I also enjoyed reading the reports by Dutchman Henk Bos Read more about A Welsh Whetstone Holiday in Snowdonia[…]

Spring Peening and Restoration

Posted on 27th February 201517th February 2017 by bethtilston

Spring is a time to bring scythe blades out of hibernation. Time to check that the oil we coated the steel with when we put them into storage in the Autumn is still protecting them (of course we all did this). Time to re-clean our blades and check for any damage that needs repairing and peen to restore Read more about Spring Peening and Restoration[…]

International Scythe Peening Day April 2014

Posted on 31st March 201417th February 2017 by bethtilston

Clean before you peen! This annual spring Peening day is a prompt for SABI members to renew their relationship with their scythes and mowing. Peening is a mysterious and elusive art, and can lead to some fairly obsessive and compulsive behaviour! To celebrate this and promote peening day I have put together a 53 second promotional video. Read more about International Scythe Peening Day April 2014[…]

One-to-One Scythe Tuition at Somerset Scythe Festival

Posted on 25th May 2012 by bethtilston

Christiane Lechner and Steve Tomlin will be running a small number of one-to-one workshops in mowing and peening at this year’s Somerset Scythe Festival on 16-17 June 2012 at Thorney Lakes, Muchelney. You can learn to improve your scything with individual attention and detailed tuition or and learn to peen the blade under expert supervision. Read more about One-to-One Scythe Tuition at Somerset Scythe Festival[…]

Safer sharpening

Posted on 11th August 201117th February 2017 by bethtilston

The modern scythe is a very safe tool to use – when you’re mowing with it. With a grip in each hand, it’s difficult to bring the blade anywhere near yourself, though easy enough to nip someone else’s heels. In addition, it’s light weight and manoeuvrability make it ideal for use in tricky corners or Read more about Safer sharpening[…]

On the quest for perfect peening

Posted on 8th July 201117th February 2017 by bethtilston

At this summers scything events a challenge was issued (by Simon Fairlie) to find the best peening and sharpening champion for all Britain (& Ireland!). In the event the challenge was not answered: the key masters and teachers of the mysterious art of peening (they know who they are!) dissolved away into the damp mists Read more about On the quest for perfect peening[…]