This page is compiled by Chris Riley. To submit information about an event please email: chris@pratensis.net
For events and courses occurring overseas please click on this link: International Events
Northern Scythe Festival and Meadows Day
Sat-Sun 2-3 July 2022
The Gathering Fields, Swainshead Hall Farm, Over Wyresdale, LA2 9DN
Sat 2 July Forest of Bowland Meadow Day Join us on the Saturday for guided tours in the meadow, meadow plant school, scything and hay time demonstrations, herbal tea and herbal essences, range of local craft stalls and demonstrations, local meadow plug plants to purchase, music and more!
Sun 3 July Northern Scythe Festival This is a great new site for the festival this year, with lovely Lancashire grass to mow, a large practice area, individual and team competitions with lots of medals!
https://www.forestofbowland.com/national-meadow-day-2022
Registration and camping information for scythers Camping and van parking £10 per person per night with access to a camp kitchen, toilets and, wait for it!, showers. Please book camping with Jim (jim@mcvittie.me.uk) who will collect fees and pass onto our host, Helen. Cash only please!
Alternatively you can stay in comfort in the converted bunk barn for £20 per person per night which even has a wood burner stove. Please book direct with Helen (info@thegatheringfields.co.uk)
Day visitors should make a donation of £2 per adult, children free (fees will be donated to Champion Bowland, www.championbowland.org.uk)
Helpers We need helpers to prepare for the Festival and, as our contribution to Meadows Day, we have agreed that scythers will look after visitor car parking on the Saturday. Please contact Jim if you are able to offer help.
CANCELLED: Essex Scythe Day (2-3 July 2022)
Water Works for Wildlife at Dunswell Adits
Friday 15 July 2022
Dunswell Lane, Dunswell village, East Yorkshire near Hull, HU60AG (entrance opposite no.40 conservatec)
Recently safeguarded by Yorkshire Water as a meadow for Biodiversity enhancement, this historic grassland conceals a network of underground galleries called adits cut into the chalk aquifer which supply Hull with clean drinking water. Until recently managed as a commercial haylage field, a more sympathetic meadow management is now in place embracing the natural seasonal flooding, with the addition of Yorkshire sourced wildflower seed from the Lower Derwent Valley NNR and Tophill Low Nature Reserves.
This will benefit both wildflowers on the edge of Urban Hull and ensure that the water resources are protected from agricultural herbicides and nitrates.
Join us from 10am to 4pm to participate in scything of the meadow, which we are using to demonstrate best technique and build skills with our team of Yorkshire Water volunteers that operate on a number of our Local Wildlife Sites.
For more information contact Richard Hampshire on Richard.Hampshire@yorkshirewater.co.uk
Sheffield Meadow festival
Saturday 16 July 2022
Brooks Bank Farm, Midhopestone, Mortimer Rd, Sheffield S36 4GZ
Join the Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust for a day celebrating meadows in South Yorkshire on the edge of the Peak District. The day will be run as part of the Sheffield Lakeland Landscape Partnership project that is in its’ final year and looking to celebrate the important role that traditional meadows and meadow management play in the area. Scything will be taking place around some recently installed wader scrapes and there will be a variety of activities put on by the Wildlife Trust for all ages. There will also be an informal competition towards the end of the day.
For more information, please contact Danny Hodgson on danny_hodgson@hotmail.co.uk
Scything With A View
17- 22 July 2022
The Stiperstones NNR, Shropshire Hills
Simon Cooter will be running “Scything with a view” this year at the Stiperstones National Nature Reserve. It was run in 2019 and there was a great group of scythers cutting bracken over pasture on various locations around the hill. There is usually scything in the morning leaving folk free to explore the Shropshire Hills in the afternoon. The week ends with an informal competition and BBQ on Friday 22nd July.
For more details contact Simon Cooter on 01743 792294 or stiperstones.events@naturalengland.org.uk
scything with a view A3 2022__
Orcop Hill Scythe Festival – Hereford (2nd year)
21 – 24 July 2022
Parrysfield HR2 8SD
The first two days we are scything Parrysfield & making hay. This will happen with two morning sessions, one before breakfast & one after.
The second two days will be scything related courses, demonstrations, have a go. We’ll even make a scythe this year!
Scything, Eating/Drinking, Singing/music/swinging, walking, Haymaking, Teaching teachers, have a go scything, beginners scythe course.
Children very welcome: a swing, playing castles in grass, making own hay bales, hide & seek etc
If you are coming let me know so I can allocate a camping space, tent/van. Contact David by email: david.kuegler@btinternet.com
Haymaking Event Flyer (A4 Document)
Kyle of Lochalsh Scything Festival
Saturday 20th August 2022
(NOT 10th September as some info may state)
Kyle & Lochalsh Community Trust, The Plock, Kyle of Lochalsh IV40 8AZ
The day will include scything experiences for absolute beginners and learners, an informal competition, peening practise, opportunity to learn about highland meadows, and lend a hand in grassland management. We are also hoping to have cut a grass maze.
Contact Heather Beaton heather.beaton@lochalsh.uk
Merlindale Scythe Festival
Saturday 10th September 2022
Merlindale, near Peebles
International Peening Day 2023
Sun 2 April 2023 (First Sunday in April)
International Peening Day is an ‘everywhere-event’ – it’s aims are to remind people to prepare their scythes in advance of the mowing season and provide support by encouraging them to get together to peen together. You can share experiences online via the SABI Facebook or email groups.