July 2023
“You can’t imagine what an effectual remedy it is for every sort of foolishness.”
So said Tolstoy in Anna Karenina about a day’s scything! Earlier this year a number of our volunteers attended a day’s training course in scything down near Liskeard. This was funded by Cormac as a thank you for our efforts. It’s something we’ve been long thinking of incorporating into the management of the churchyard, so was a welcome opportunity.
Kevin the tutor explained the many styles and traditions of scything, the parts of the tool and the different blades available – they range from ditch blades for rough, uneven ground to fine grass cutting blades for lawns. Austrian scythes are mostly used these days as they are easier to use, and the handle (or snath as it is properly known) comes in 3 sizes with adjustable positions for the hand grips so the tool can be built around the size and shape of the individual user.
Much of the skill is in keeping the blade sharp. The user carries a whetstone in a sheath and every few steps the blade needs to be honed. Periodically the blade also needs to be re-profiled in a process called peening, where the blade is hammered against a curved anvil to keep the bevel edge thin and sharp and prevent it becoming bull-nosed.
Scything is very good for the mind and body. It is clean, quiet and not too taxing if done correctly - the motion has been described as similar to tai-chi, but of course the benefits are also environmental. There isn’t the soil compaction that can happen with machinery, it is carbon neutral and sustainable, it doesn’t require particular weather conditions, and also importantly there is less risk to any wildlife present as it can move away in good time.
For the churchyard in particular there are added benefits. Sometimes the use of a large ride-on mower has resulted in damage to headstones – with scything this isn’t an issue. Also, the scything process results in neat rows of long stemmed cuttings that are much easier to collect and compost. We have long been maintaining the paths through the grass with a manual push along mower, and over time the introduction of scything into our scheme will further reduce the reliance on fossil-fuel driven maintenance.
If you are interested in learning this ancient art, a range of courses are offered by Kevin, and you can find more information at skyegrove.co.uk – we will certainly be able to make use of your new found skills, and you can keep your shirt on unlike a certain Ross Poldark!
Comments