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TUITION FOR BEGINNERS,
IMPROVERS, AND GROUP LEADERS

One or Two-day Scythe Courses in West Dorset

Including grassland management and haymaking.

At Monkton Wyld Court, near Lyme Regis, Dorset

Saturday-Sunday 18-19 May 2024; 20-21 July 2024

Tutors: Simon Fairlie, with Jon Hills and Jared Hills

Attending both days is recommended, but you can attend just the first day if you are a complete beginner or just the second day if you have already acquired the basics.

Beginners often imagine that a two day course is a bit excessive, just to learn how to use a garden tool; and that is true if all you want to do is knock down weeds. But anyone who wants to mow grass on any scale will benefit from a two day course. Two days gives you enough time to practice different peening methods; we also spend a couple of hours on grass management, and demonstrate how to make and stack a hay rack, which enables you to make hay even in changeable weather.

Saturday: Basics
• selecting the right blade and snath for the job:
• setting up a scythe and snath;
• health and safety

• sharpening;
• basic mowing technique for grass and weeds
• how to avoid damaging the blade, and how to repair chips and cracks;
• peening demonstration.

Sunday: Improvement
• meadow mowing;
• managing grass with scything in mind;
• small-scale haymaking techniques;
• peening practice with jig and bar peen anvil.

You can bring your own scythe, but we supply fully sharpened scythes for you to use on the course. We also have a comprehensive range of Austrian scythes and ancillary equipment for sale.
Lunch is included and an evening meal is available for people doing the two days. Camping or barn loft accommodation is available.

Monkton Wyld Court is on the Dorset/Devon border, half a mile from the A35 and four miles from Axminster station.

To book a place or for more information: scythes@myphone.coop; 01297 561359 (if no reply send an email rather than an answerphone message).

Scroll down for photos and information about other courses.



 

 

 

Basic Outdoor Handtools Use and Maintenance

A two day course for the novice

with Kevin Austin and Simon Fairlie

Covers: scything, haymaking and scrub clearance; woodland and hedging; garden and arable tools (including mattocks, wheeled tools, seed fiddles etc); fencing and gate-making; ropes, hoists and winches; and much more

The first of these courses was held in September 2023 and was very successful. We plan to hold them again at some point in the future. If you wish to be kept informed, email scythes@myphone.coop

Other Scythe Courses

There are several other scythe teachers based all around the country. You can find out their details at http://scytheassociation.org/courses/ There are also courses at the West Country Scythe Fair in June, see: https://www.greenfair.org.uk

E-Mail List

Colin Close now sends out The Scythe Association's newsletter, The Windrow, which lists scything events, courses and developments in the UK. It comes out once a year. To get on the list to receive an emailed pdf of The Windrow, please e-mail itchka(at)compuserve.com

 

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