Scythe Courses 2021
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 Teachers’ course held at the Somerset Scythe Festival. This 2 day course teaches is taught by Simon Fairlie, Christiane Laganda, Phil Batten and Steve Tomlin. It covers the methods and practicalities of teaching the use of the scythe including a strong emphasis on safety. Attendance on the course does not imply recommendation of a teacher by the Scythe Association.
Somerset Scythe Festival 2021
- Email Simon Fairlie scythes@myphone.coop
Scottish Scything Festival 2021
- Contact Rob Brodie: robmaculture@yahoo.co.uk
The Shropshire Hills Hay Meadow Festival
Saturday 24th July 11am to 6pm A fun filled family day at the Discovery centre, Craven Arms. Celebrating Wildflower Meadows and their Wealth of Wildlife.
- Scything competitions/ have a go.
- Wildlife discovery activities
- Rural arts and crafts
- Eco talk tent
- Music, merriment and refreshments
Advanced tickets available in advance from the Discovery Centre. Please call: 01588 676060 https://www.shropshirehillsdiscoverycentre.co.uk/
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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 am an internationally respected scythe expert, 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.
- 4 June 2021, Slaidburn, Lancashire
- 23 July 2021, Slaidburn Lancashire
- 5 August 2021, Chapel-le-Dale, Yorkshire
- 12 Aug 2021, Chapel-le-Dale, Yorkshire
- 4 September 2021, Sedbergh, Cumbria
- 8 Oct Peening workshop, Slaidburn, Lancashire
- Email stevetomlin8@gmail.com to book
Danny Hodgson* Sheffield: danny_hodgson@hotmail.co.uk www.handpowered.co.uk
I offer enjoyable and relaxed courses, whether you are a complete beginner or someone looking to improve your scything technique. I provide both contract cutting and courses on your own land depending on your needs.
- 22-26th July 2021 Sheffield
Andrea Gilpin*, Wild Meadow, Powys hello@wildmeadow.co
Learn to scythe or improve your skills in 3 acres of wildflower meadows and orchards with a variety of terrain and vegetation types.
Equipment provided. Scythe equipment available to purchase. 1:1 also available. Visit Wild Meadow for more information.
- Learn to scythe – beginners –Sat 12th June, Sunday 18thJuly other dates TBC, £65
- Scything for improvers – Saturday 17th July (more dates to follow), £65
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.
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.
- Introductory Scythe Courses. See our website for 2021 dates.
- Peening and Sharpening Workshops. See our website for 2021 dates.
David Kuegler* Hereford david.kuegler@btinternet.com
Day course covers everything to make you happy & efficient with your scythe through to maintaining a sharp peened edge. I sell full scythe kits, all oiled and peened!
- Courses every other week @ Parry’s Field Orcop or clients meadow
- Full Meadow scything festival Aug 27-29 @ Parry’s Field
- Scything/cider weekend in Hay on Wye. Date tbc
Available to teach individuals or groups in North Wales, Anglesey to Mold.
- Hill fort scything course 16th – 20th August Accommodation any nationwide groups or individuals. To make bookings > https://wildbushcraft.co.uk/
courses/hill-fort-scything- course
Beth Tilston*, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire
https://cloudcottageland.co.uk/scythe-courses-in-gloucestershire/
My day course will teach you everything you need to know about how to use the Austrian (Continental) scythe. From mowing to peening, this course will get complete beginners started and iron out some issues that those who’ve started their scything journey may be having. All equipment will be provided.
- Saturday 5th June, Flaxley, Forest of Dean £80
- Saturday 10th July, Flaxley, Forest of Dean £80
- One to ones in my home meadow (email bethtilston@googlemail.com)
- NEW online scythe course. Pay what you want – you decide what to pay https://cloudcottageland.vhx.tv
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South West England
Simon Fairlie *, Dorset/Devon
Two day course in scything, including peening freehand and with jig, haymaking by hand and some aspects of grassland management. Lunch is included. Accommodation and other meals are available on site. Begins Friday evening 10 September. Ends 5pm Sunday 12 September
For information about the course content: scythes@myphone.coop. For prices, booking etc: info@monktonwyldcourt.org, 01297 560342, https://
Chris Riley* (North Dorset) chris@pratensis.net 07719 691312 www.pratensis.net
Available for scythe training in the Wessex area, and beyond. For the following beginners’ courses, contact me or see the relevant web sites for info and to book. Scythes available for purchase.
- Carymoor, near Castle Cary, SE Somerset. Tues 25th and Wed 26th May 2021 These two courses are FREE to Somerset residents www.carymoor.org.uk/events-and-courses/an-introduction-to-scything
- Lords of the Manor Hotel, Glos. 24 July, 14 Aug, 11 Sept 2021 (all Saturdays) www.cotswoldsruralskills.org.
Ross Adams*, Devon ross@abundantgardens.uk
For more information visit my website www.abundantgardens.uk
- Introduction to scything – June 19th, July 17th, August 14th £65
Kevin Austin * Liskeard Cornwall
kevin@skyegrove.co.uk 07943653825 www.skyegrove.co.uk
For all your scything requirements in Cornwall
Learn to use and maintain the Austrian Scythe
Group courses or one on one tuition, beginners or improvers, please contact.
- Beginners courses.
– 22nd May, 19th June, 17th July - Improvers course
– 21st August
£65 10am – 4pm plus lunch
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South East England
https://www.theoldfarmyard.co.uk/training-courses/
I’ve been teaching scything for 10 years, in the South East and London, for colleges, local authorities and environmental groups. My courses are both for novices & improvers, with or without their own scythes, and cover all types of vegetation. I can also give one-to-one tuition on your own meadow.
- Introduction to Austrian Scything; Gallowstree Common, South Oxon RG4 9DS; Saturday, 29th May 2021; price £70, including refreshments
- Improver’s Course with Peening; Gallowstree Common, South Oxon RG4 9DS; Saturday, 18th September 2021; price £70, including refreshments
- Introduction to Austrian Scything; Kent – venue to be confirmed; Saturday, 4th September 2021
- Combined: Beginner’ Introductory / Improver’s Course with Peening; Gallowstree Common, South Oxon RG4 9DS; Saturday, 9th October 2021; price £70, including refreshments<\li>
East Anglia
Richard Brown
Norfolk. richardjbrown556@gmail.com
Botanist, ecologist and seedsman offers advice and tuition by arrangement. Can tailor scythe courses for individuals or groups to include practical scythe instruction plus wildflower meadow and grassland management. Contact me via the email above.
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Scotland
Steve Tomlin*
SteveTomlinCrafts.co.uk stevetomlin8@gmail.com
Steve has taught several courses in Scotland, as far north as Caithness. Email to book a group workshop at your own venue and Steve will travel to you which is much more economical. Read about ascythe course near Ellen, Aberdeenshire.
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
Currently trying to find other scythe people in Ireland and Northern Ireland in order to connect and network. The more people voice their interest, the more likely it is we’ll make more courses and mowing events happen in future. Do get in contact. You’re also welcome to join the facebook page An Faobhar – Scythe Group Irelan.
I learned to scythe with Simon Fairlie and have attended the Scythe Fair on two occasions. I am a forester and find the scythe a great tool for managing grassland and woodlands. Courses in Co. Clare, Co. Wexford and travels to group gatherings. Courses cover introduction to scything and peening.
- Learn to Mow with an Austrian Scythe June 20th and August 28th at Seed Savers, https://
irishseedsavers.ie/workshops/ - Contact for other dates- temujinhayes@gmail.com / 087 1226266
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.
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Channel Islands
Fiona Pollock * Guernsey, Channel Islands. fionpollockuk@yahoo.co.uk
Based in Guernsey but willing to island hop upon discussion. Individual and group lessons available upon request. I stock and sell scythe kits. Contact for more information : fionapollockuk@yahoo.co.uk
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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.
Chris Riley* chris@pratensis.net 07719 691312
Experienced scythe trainer based in north Dorset. I mainly deliver beginners’ courses in the Wessex area, but sometimes it can be feasible to go further afield. Austrian scythes available for purchase. See web site for more information www.pratensis.net
Courses across England and Wales for beginners and improvers.
I have been teaching since 2010 and I enjoy travelling to tutor groups in their own patch. Clients include Wildlife Trusts, The National Trust and many community groups.