Scything

For the care and maintenance of the Nature Reserve, Quaker Wood and the Chalk Pits,

Sustainable Blewbury has acquired two scythes and three other volunteers have their own. We are using them to cut back the rough grassland and vegetation in the Orchard area at the Nature Reserve. We are intending to use them at the Chalk Pits this autumn and in the spring.

Why scythe rather than strim? Historically, meadows were cut over weeks which gave a much greater chance for regrowth of flowers and for animals to get out the way. By cutting grass with machines, it is cut in few hours and is less labour intensive. We are using scythes to reduce the grasses and allow slower growing wildflowers space and light to grow and set seed. To enable this, we are also raking the areas after cutting. 

Without removal (either by us or by grazing animals) the dying grass fertilises the soil and makes it

better for grass. This is why continual cuts (e.g. on sports pitches, ornamental lawns) are

continually mown to promote just grassland growth and to remove wildflowers (or weeds as

some people see them).

Wildflowers grow from the tip so once they have been cut, their seed is lost although in many

cases, some can reflower well e.g. clover, buttercup. On the other hand, grasses grow up from

the base (having evolved to be continually grazed) and therefore can be cut continually but still

survive.

So, we are scything these areas to encourage a greater diversity of plants. It also keeps an old

tradition alive and reduces the amount of petrol used to power strimmers.

Four people have been on a six-hour training course to learn how to scythe safely and how to

sharpen the blades. We may run a course in Blewbury if enough people are interested in learning.

Please contact the secretary if so. Scything is physically tiring so the more people who can help

us, the better. It’s also very enjoyable!

 Jane Kinniburgh