Learn the ancient craft of scything on an Iron Age hill fort and wildflower meadow. This immersive four day course is fully catered and you will be staying in the beautiful glamping tents at ‘The Forge’ nestled just beneath the hill fort.
This course will introduce you to all the skills you need to scythe like a professional. You will learn:
- To set up the scythes for your own body and how to make them ergonomic;
- The proper techniques for scything on flat ground, on slopes, around objects and through different vegetation;
- Field sharpening and honing;
- Peening
- When to sharpen and when to peen;
- Rowing the hay and turning;
- How to make hay ricks in fine and wet weather.
Scythe kits are available for you to purchase before the course so you will be using your own equipment and become at one with it. Kits will also be available to purchase on or after the course as well as various books on the subject.
The glamping accommodation is in spacious canvas bell tents and is based on two people sharing, with real beds and all bedding and linen provided. Each tent comes with its own well equipped camp kitchen and private composting toilet and there are hot showers on site.
The course will run from Monday to Thursday but you do not have to check out of The Forge until Friday morning so you can admire the work that you have done to help the biodiversity of the site and revel in the skills and knowledge that you are going to be taking home.
We will be providing all the delicious meals to keep you well fuelled for your scything. As much as possible all the food will be local and from sustainable sources. All the meals will be prepared by The Forge staff and served in the communal cabin on site. We can cater for all dietary requirement and allergies.
