Scythe Courses 2023
This page is managed by Steve Tomlin, SABI Training Coordinator. For enquiries please contact Steve: stevetomlin8@gmail.com
Courses by region
Teachers marked * have attended the Scythe Improvers’ Masterclass course held at the Somerset Scythe Festival. Attendance on the course does not imply recommendation of a teacher by the Scythe Association. Workshops also take place at various scythe festivals around the UK, please visit the Events page for details.
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North England
Steve Tomlin* Manchester
stevetomlin8@gmail.com SteveTomlinCrafts.co.uk/learn-to-scythe
Practical, fun courses covering all the skills to use and maintain your scythe. I have been teaching scything since 2010, am author of ‘Learn to Scythe‘ and sell scythe kits. I can travel to teach you or your group at your venue. Subscribe to my newsletter for more dates.
- 9 June Bell Sykes Farm, Slaidburn, Lancashire
- 17 June Brigflatts Meeting House, Sedbergh, Cumbria
- 23 July, Bell Sykes Farm, Slaidburn, Lancashire
- 4 August Broadrake, Chapel-le-Dale, Yorkshire Dales
- 10 September Foxglove Covert LNR, Ripon, N Yorkshire
- 6 October Peening workshop at Bell Sykes Farm, Slaidburn
- £100/day Email stevetomlin8@gmail.com to book your place
John R Grundy* https://www.wildernesstamed.com covering Northumberland and Durham and the borders.
Training groups and individuals from conservation charities, friends of groups and small holders. More information at https://www.wildernesstamed.com/scything Phone 07827958361 or email contact@wildernesstamed.com to book your course.
Danny Hodgson& Helene Ducrotoy, Llanidloes, hand.powered@yahoo.comJoin us for scything courses tailored to all abilities, providing group sessions, one-to-one tuition and contract mowing. Working throughout Mid-Wales and across the UK, visit www.handpowered.co.uk for details.
- 28th, 29th or 30th July 2023 Regather farm, Sheffield, £70.00 per person per day.9:30 am-4 pm booking
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Wales & Borders
David Kuegler* HEREFORD david.kuegler@btinternet.com https://www.instagram.com/parrysfieldorcop/
David has been teaching 10years & still learning. Courses cover every imaginable type of situation, & Peening. Teaching the student to have the skills to teach themselves & others. Groups or 1:1 @ Parrysfield, Orcop or @ your venue. Supply fully prepared Scythe Kits, Oiled & Sharp(Peened).
- Beginners Scythe Courses every Second Saturday April – September
- Parrysfield, Orcop Hill, Hereford HR28SDSpecial teaching & re-teaching 27th-30th July Parrysfield, Orcop Hill, HR28SD (3rd Year)
- Banks of River Severn, Worcester WR26LX, Scything Course/Event – a beautiful site, date tbc
- The Big Apple www.bigapple.org.uk, scythe teaching for beginners & have a go! 7th & 8th October
Simon Cooter*, Shropshire, 01743 792294 or simon.cooter@naturalengland.org.uk
Site manager for the Stiperstones National Nature Reserve, courses are usually run from the nature reserve base where practice can be carried out on a variety of vegetation and slopes. All proceeds go to the management of the nature reserve.
- Introductory Scything and meadow management course, Sunday 8th July, 10am -4pm. £60pp
- Introductory Scything and meadow management course, Monday 24th July, 10am -4pm. £60pp. (followed by optional free scything sessions all week).
Philip Batten*, Dyfed Permaculture Farm Trust, Carmarthenshire
info@scythecymru.co.uk
Learn to scythe or improve your skills. Workshops give you – hands on experience; a chance to “try before you buy” or get your own scythe set up well; a visit to a smallholding where the scythe is integral to the management and is used year round in a variety of situations. www.scythecymru.co.uk
Danny Hodgson& Helene Ducrotoy, Llanidloes, hand.powered@yahoo.com
Join us for scything courses tailored to all abilities, providing group sessions, one-to-one tuition and contract mowing. Working throughout Mid-Wales and across the UK, visit www.handpowered.co.uk for details.
- 2nd April 2023, Peening Day: Newchapel, Llanidloes (Free)
- 16th & 17th June 2023; Kite and Meadows festival, New Chapel, Llanidloes, free
- 16th or 17th July 2023: Course in scything and meadow management. Newchapel, Llanidloes (£65 per person per day)
- 12th or 13th August 2023: Course in scything and meadow management. Newchapel, Llanidloes £65
Andrea Gilpin*, Presteigne, Powys hello@wildmeadow.co https://www.wildmeadow.co/scything-classes
Learn to scythe or improve your skills in 3 acres of meadows and orchards with a variety of terrain and vegetation types.Equipment provided and available to purchase. 1:1 also available. Meadow management advice given.
- Learn to scythe – Sunday 14th May – £70
- Learn to scythe – Saturday 18th June – £70
- Learn to scythe – Saturday 9th September – £70
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Midlands
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South West England
Andi Rickard* Somerset andirickard@me.com 0758 1239453
Former UK scythe champion and current ladies.Beginners and Improvers courses throughout the summer from April through October.Group courses and private bookings.Courses held at Mower Meadow in South Somerset. (Camping available).I can also teach at your venue.Go to www.scytheschool.com for more details and to book.
Adrian Thomas* North Devon
E mail: adrianthomas59@gmail.com Tel: 01409 282801
I run training courses either at my home in Buckland Filleigh or at a site of your choice, for individuals or groups. I sell scythe kit and offer a blade peening service.
Kevin Austin* (Cornwall) kevin@skyegrove.co.uk (07943653825) www.skyegrove.co.uk
For all your scything needs, training and equipment from an experienced instructor in the use and maintenance of the Austrian scythe.Single, couples or groups, tailored for beginners or improvers.
- May 20th
- May 27th
Ross Adams* South Devon
Email ross@abundantgardens.uk Website www.abundantgardens.uk
I run scything courses for beginners and improvers through the summer in
the South Hams. I can also run a course on your site for a group or as
1:1. Equipment provided and avaliable to purchase.
Jeremy Weiss*, Totnes, South Devon jeremy@properedges.com 07962 432317
I run courses for beginners and improvers on my smallholding near Totnes. I can also run courses on your land and I offer one to one tuition. You can find out more on my website: https://properedges.com/courses/
Chris Riley* North Dorset
chris@pratensis.net 07719 691312
Available for scythe training in the Wessex area, and beyond.
For up-to-date information see: www.pratensis.net
Scything Workshops at Lords of the Manor Hotel (Glos) on Wed 16 Aug, Wed 30 Aug, Wed 13 Sep 2023. Go to www.lordsofthemanor.com/scything-workshop for further details, and to book.
Simon Fairlie* Devon Dorset border
scythes@myphone.coop www.thescytheshop.co.uk/courses.html
Two day courses, Friday evening till Sunday afternoon, on scything, peening, grassland management and haymaking; particularly suitable for people with livestock; 16-18 May and 12-14-September.
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South East England
Nicole Clough*, Oxfordshire www.joyofscything.uk
I provide training in the use, maintenance and joy of the Austrian scythe, within Oxfordshire, nearby counties and southern Midlands, and further afield on request. Please visit my website for 2023 venue dates or to enquire about arranging a bespoke session.
Clive Leeke* Berkshire; Oxfordshire; Buckinghamshire; West London
hedgecraft@theoldfarmyard.co.uk www.theoldfarmyard.co.uk
Twelve years’ teaching experience since qualifying. Courses in scything andwildflower meadow management on own meadow in South Oxon, or on your land byarrangement.
- Introduction to Scything. Gallowstree Common, South Oxon. Saturday, 1st July 2023. £85 pp
- Creating and Maintaining a Wildflower Meadow, including scything taster session. Gallowstree Common. Saturday, 29th July 2023. £85 pp
- Or book both courses for £150
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East Anglia & East Midlands
Richard Brown*, Kings Lynn, Norfolk. richard@wildscythe.co.uk
I offer courses and individual tuition. As an experienced Botanist, Ecologist and seedsman I can tailor courses to include both practical scythe instruction as well as meadow management theory. I sell scythes and offer fitting and peening services from my scythe workshop and meadow.
- Learn to scythe and grassland management courses in June July and August
- Peening and Scythe maintenance course 1st April
- see https://wildscythe.co.uk/calendar/
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Scotland
Rob Brodie, Fife, Scotland, robmaculture@yahoo.co.uk,
Beginners and Improvers scything workshops suitable for anyone interested in using a scythe to manage green spaces. Please email to arrange a workshop and for more information. Also visit http://quietertimes.org for more details and to see current workshop dates.
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Ireland
Susanne Raven, East Cork/Ireland, rowanlily@yahoo.de
While I don’t teach courses, I do offer scythe mowing and peening services and can provide information regarding scything in Ireland. You’re welcome to join the facebook group An Faobhar – Scythe Group Ireland: https://www.facebook.com/groups/215248119929200
For more information visit http://www.susanneraven.ie/
Neil Foulkes, Co. Leitrim, Ireland. neilfoulkes62@gmail.com
Formal and informal workshops on mowing and maintenance, including through local authorities. Mainly covering NI and the border counties. I also sell Austrian scythes and equipment
Chris Hayes, Wexford, Ireland temujinhayes@gmail.com
Scythe shop and course updates – https://www.scythe.ie/
Learned to scythe with Simon Fairlie in 2012 and have been teaching since 2014
- May 27th, July 15th, September 23rd https://irishseedsavers.ie/workshops/
- June 10th, September 30th https://cecas.ie/event/one-day-course-an-introduction-to-scything-at-cecas-10-june/
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Channel Islands
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National
If you have a group of friends and your own grass, the following teachers can be booked to come and teach at your own location.
Steve Tomlin* Manchester
stevetomlin8@gmail.com
stevetomlincrafts.co.uk/learn-to-scythe
Courses across the UK for beginners and improvers , run by an internationally respected mower and tutor. I have been teaching since 2010 and am the author of the Learn to Scythe book, the first practical instruction manual for the Austrian scythe.
David Kuegler* HEREFORD
david.kuegler@btinternet.comhttps://www.instagram.com/parrysfieldorcop/
David teaches: All Wales & England @ mutually agreed times.
Andi Rickard* Somerset andirickard@me.com 0758 1239453
Former UK scythe champion and current ladies.Beginners and Improvers courses throughout the summer from April through October.Group courses and private bookings.Courses held at Mower Meadow in South Somerset. (Camping available).I can also teach at your venue.Go to www.scytheschool.com for more details and to book.
Danny Hodgson& Helene Ducrotoy, Llanidloes, hand.powered@yahoo.com
Join us for scything courses tailored to all abilities, providing group sessions, one-to-one tuition and contract mowing. Working throughout Mid-Wales and across the UK, visit www.handpowered.co.uk for details.
Andrea Gilpin* Powys, hello@wildmeadow.co
https://www.wildmeadow.co/scything-classes
Courses across England and Wales for beginners and improvers.
I have enjoyed teaching since 2010 and I frequently travel to tutor groups in their own patch. Can include advise on meadow management. Clients include Wildlife Trusts, The National Trust, RSPB and many community groups.
Chris Riley* North Dorset
chris@pratensis.net 07719 691312
Experienced scythe trainer based in north Dorset. I mainly deliver beginners’ courses in the Wessex area, but it can often also be feasible to go further afield. Scythes available for purchase. See web site for more information: www.pratensis.net
Online
Beth Tilston* Forest of Dean https://cloudcottageland.vhx.tv A new 30 minute course available online. Covering everything I go into on my day course. Pay what you want – you decide what you want to pay for it.