Join us for a Scything and Grassland Management Course led by Richard Brown, scythesman and botanist, offering a practical introduction to traditional scything as an effective and nature friendly tool for managing meadows and grassland habitats. Participants will receive hands-on instruction in the fundamentals of scything, learning how this traditional skill can be used to manage grassland in a more thoughtful and ecologically sensitive way than conventional cutting methods.

Alongside practical scything tuition, the course explores meadow and grassland management using the farm’s restored and actively managed habitats as living examples. The day will examine how different cutting strategies, including “mowsaic” approaches, can support biodiversity, insect lifecycles, and the long-term health and resilience of grassland ecosystems.

This is a valuable opportunity to:

• Learn the fundamentals of traditional scything and scythe maintenance
• Explore how scything can be used as a practical tool for grassland management
• Discover different grassland management approaches, including cutting strategies that support biodiversity
• Gain insight into insect lifecycles and how cutting patterns and timing can help create healthier habitats for wildlife

Itinerary:

TBC 

Location:

Manor Farm
Langridge
Bath
BA1 8AJ

Date:

Friday 31st July 2026

Cost:

£80 per person, including refreshments and a light lunch