24th February 2011 bethtilston

Courses

Scythe Courses 2019

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 2019

  • Beginners’ course 8 June £65 for individuals, £110 for two people booking together, including lunch’. Please  contact Mary Ellis at beginnerscythecourse@gmail.com
  • Improvers’ course 7 & 8 June with Steve Tomlin, Phil Batten and Christiane Laganda. Tuition from three of the most experienced mowers and teachers. Includes correct set up of the tool; your mowing stance and style; sharpening, peening and repairing blades; teaching and organizing volunteers. £150 per person, £250 for two people. £175 for organisations,  £100 concessions (limited number). Lunch included.
    Email Simon Fairlie scythes@myphone.coop

 

Scottish Scything Festival 2019


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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.
£80/day, email stevetomlin8@gmail.com  to book

  • Learn to Scythe 2nd June (full), 26th July (full), 3rd August at Slaidburn, Lancashire
  • Peening workshop 11th October at Slaidburn, Lancashire

 

Jez Hastings* Peak District 
Way of the Scythe Course and traditional haymaking www.jeremyhastings.uk  I have been scything and land working since 1981. Teachers course 2010. All tools/scythes supplied for course and for sale.
  • Rough Weeds and Bramble scything days Spring  Bumblebee Trust Stanton Lees. 
  • Way of the Scythe 6 July RSPB Coombes Valley Leek Staffs
  • Way of the Scythe and  trad haymaking Carr  15-19 July House Meadows Sheffield
  • Way of the Scythe and trad haymaking 22-26 July Warslow Peak District 
  • Way of the Scythe 24 August Warwickshire WT

 

has been teaching and demonstrating scything for over 7 years across the North East as well as training volunteers and staff for National Trust, Borders Forest Trust and Wildlife Trusts nationally.
  • Course learn to scythe at Durham Wildlife Trust Rainton Meadows Houghton le Spring DH4 6PU Saturday 27th July from 9 am till 4 pm £65.

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Wales & Borders

David Kuegler*  Parry’s Meadow, Orcop Hill, Hereford, 
Learn Scythe, Sharpen & Peen, meadow, & mowing around trees. Steve Tomlin’s ‘Learn to Scythe book’, is covered. Home cooked lunch on course (John Letts ‘bread’). Will travel to teach in your Field or Orchard.  1:1 or up to 1:6. Scything equipment provided, Scythe Kits to purchase; made to fit peening pony & meadow products. & new Personal Handmade Snaths. Learn to Scythe @ Orcop Hill, Hereford, Course Dates: (from £60.00, including lunch)
  • April 13th, May  11th, July 13th, Scything, Sharpening & Peening
  • April – August drop-in evening sessions, Wednesday 5.30-7.30pm
  • August 17th Peening Day & April 1st
Philip Batten*, Dyfed Permaculture Farm Trust, Carmarthenshire
info@scythecymru.co.uk  www.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.
  • Introductory Scythe Courses –  Saturday 25th May, Wednesday 26th June, Sunday 14th July (more dates to be added) – £60 / £50 (low wage concession) £30 (youth rate)
  • Peening and Sharpening Workshops –  Saturday 6th April, Saturday 27th July- £50 / £40(low wage concession)
  • “Mowing with Ease” Mowing Workshop – Sunday 28th July – £60 (10% discount when booked with peening workshop on 28th July)

 

Andrea Gilpin* Powyshello@wildmeadow.co
Learn to scythe or improve your skills. Equipment provided. Scythes available to purchase. 1:1 also available.Wild Meadow for more information.

  • Learn to scythe – beginners – Sun 2 June, Friday 2nd Aug, £55
  • Scything for improvers – Sun 14 July (more dates to follow), £55

 

Beth Tilston*  Forest of Dean, Gloucestershirehttp://www.learnscything.com/courses/
On my course you will learn how to set up a scythe to fit your body, how to mow effectively and easily, how to sharpen your blade, and how to peen. All equipment is provided and you can buy a scythe on the day. 

  • Beginners scything course, Forest of Dean, Saturday 25th May, Saturday 20th July £80

 

Simon Cooter* – 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.

  • Introduction to alpine scything course Sunday 14 July £50 including all equipment and refreshments. Learn the joy of scything at the Stiperstones National Nature Reserve. Course is followed by a week of drop in scything opportunities on the reserve and finishes on the Friday with a competition and BBQ. Please contact Simon Cooter at stiperstones.events@naturalengland.org.uk
  • Introduction to scything course Sat 29th June £50. Get to grip with scything with this one day course at the shropshire Hills Discovery Centre. Please contact: info@shropshirehillsdiscoverycentre.co.uk

 

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South West England

Kevin Austin* Skyegrove Cornwall/SW Devon (07943653825)
kevin@skyegrove.co.uk www.skyegrove.co.uk
Learn to scythe with a relaxed efficient style with an Austrian scythe, we can come and deliver to groups (6max) on your own land or attend courses below.

  • Beginners 18th May and 13th July
  • Improvers 7th Sept
Andi Rickard* Somerset  andirickard@me.com 0758 1239453
Ladies UK Champion for eight years. Seven years experience teaching scythe skills throughout the South West. Course dates and venues booked by arrangement. One-to-one sessions, couples or group bookings. Go to www.somersetscytheschool.com for more details and how to apply.
  • July 6th – Knightshayes Court, National Trust, free workshops

 

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, see the relevant web sites for info and to book. Scythes available for purchase.

 

 

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South East England

Nicole Clough*, Oxfordshire  good_clean_mud@icloud.com
I provide training in the use, maintenance and joy of the Austrian scythe. I run one day courses within Oxfordshire and the surrounding counties, and can also offer tailor made sessions.
Upcoming dates for Training in the Use and Maintenance of the Austrian Scythe:

Places on the above courses are £60 per person, with an additional cost of £20 if equipment hire is required. To discuss your requirements or make a booking, please get in touch.

Jez Hastings *jeremyhastings@me.com
Way of the Scythe Course and traditional haymaking  www.jeremyhastings.uk I have been scything and land working since 1981. Teachers course 2010. All tools/scythes supplied for course and for sale.
  • Way of the Scythe and Orchard haymaking 1-7 September Bumblebee Trust Kent

 

Beth Tilston* Barcombe, Sussex, http://www.learnscything.com/courses/
On my course you will learn how to set up a scythe to fit your body, how to mow effectively and easily, how to sharpen your blade, and how to peen. All equipment is provided and you can buy a scythe on the day. 

  • Beginners scything course, Barcombe, Saturday 11th May, Saturday 27th July, £80

 

Ida Fabrizio*, London ifabrizio@hotmail.com
I have been teaching scything with an Austrian Scythe for individuals and community groups in many diverse interesting spaces and projects across the capital. I show how to set up, maintain and move your body to use the scythe.  
Short workshops coming up in the Lea Valley
  • Scything for beginners: Tuesday June 18th 10am-1pm. WaterWorks Centre Nature Reserve, Lammas Road.  Book on eventbrite
  • Scything refresher/improvers Tuesday 25th June 10-1pm. WaterWorks Centre Nature Reserve, Lammas Road.  Book on eventbrite
At the Community Haystacks event
Saturday 20th July, Walthamstow Marshes
  • Short intro to scything Saturday 20th July 10.30am-1pm. Location details and to book a space on eventbrite

 

Stephan Gehrels Brighton  https://brightonpermaculture.org.uk/scything-workshop/
A practical and theoretical workshop, run by Brighton Permaculture Trust covering the history, use and maintenance of the scythe, thereby enabling competent use.  There is also the opportunity to volunteer the following day.  See website for full details
  • Scything, Stanmer Park, Brighton BN1 9PZ, 20 July (10am – 5pm), £56-£175 (depending on income)

 

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East Anglia

Richard Brown*, Norfolk richardjbrown556@gmail.com
Botanist, ecologist and seedsman offers scythe courses and tuition.  Can tailor courses to groups or individuals to include practical scythe instruction plus grassland and wild flower meadow management. See Emorsgate website for current scheduled courses.

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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 a scythe course near Ellen, Aberdeenshire. 

 

Rob Brodie, Fife, 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

 

 

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Channel Islands

Fiona Pollock * Guernsey and Channel Islands
fionapollockuk@yahoo.co.uk
I’m based in Guernsey and island hop on discussion. Individual and group lessons available for beginners and improvers. Scythe kits are available for purchase. Please email for further information.

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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* Cumbria 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.

 

Jez Hastings* Peak District jeremyhastings@me.com www.jeremyhastings.uk
Way of the Scythe Courses, traditional haymaking, tree planting and meadow restoration www.jeremyhastings.uk
I have been scything and land working since 1981. Teachers course 2010.
All tools/scythes supplied for course and for sale.

Andrea Gilpin* Powys, hello@wildmeadow.co, www.wildmeadow.co
Courses across England and Wales for beginners and improvers.
I have enjoyed teaching since 2010 and clients include Wildlife Trusts, National Trust, RSPB along and many community groups

Fiona Pollock * Guernsey and Channel Islands
fionapollockuk@yahoo.co.uk 
I’m based in Guernsey and island hop on discussion. Individual and group lessons available for beginners and improvers. Scythe kits are available for purchase. Please email for further information.

 

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

 

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