English Heritage recruits scythe volunteers

The conservation charity is training volunteers to cut meadows by hand at Muchelney Abbey in Somerset, reviving a centuries-old practice for modern land management.

Scything protects rare bumblebees

The project focuses on Muchelney Abbey's meadow, where hand-cutting will create flower-rich habitats for the shrill carder bee, a species that has declined due to loss of grasslands.

Volunteers find scything therapeutic

Trainee Ginny Slade describes scything as meditative, with a repetitive rhythm that lets you connect with the landscape while hearing the blade cut and smelling the meadow.

“You find your rhythm and zone into it. You can really connect with the meadow, the landscape.”

Training comes from national park experts

Professionals at Exmoor National Park Authority teach volunteers how to use and maintain scythes, which can last for generations if properly cared for.

“You want a really good scythe. If you look after them, they can last generations.”

Volunteers monitor bee populations

As part of a three-year project with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, volunteers track which flowers bloom, which plants bees use, and how far they travel from nests.

Project expands beyond Somerset

Muchelney Abbey is the pilot site for a larger initiative. English Heritage plans to send trained scythers to other heritage sites as part of a pledge to create and enhance 100 meadows.