Easter Breich Community Wood.

Using a scythe to cut grass and flowers would be daunting for the uninitiated, but the volunteers of Easter Breich Community Wood seized the chance to learn. The group trained five members in using scythes, which means they can reduce use of machinery when maintaining path verges and grass areas. Training was provided by Steve Tomlin, a practitioner of wood crafts and skills who, with 15 years’ experience, is recognised as the leading scythe instructor in the UK. Learning to use a scythe includes ensuring it is set up to fit the person using it. Sharpening it and working at edges are also taught, along with care and maintenance. 

Easter Breich were keen to bring these skills to its woods, and were able to achieve this with WLCAN’s Eco Development Fund. They explained the impact it would have.

“It will allow us to manage the grass ‘ride’ area of the woodland to promote biodiversity and a greater variety of wildflowers. The training was hugely enjoyable, and the trainer’s expertise and enthusiasm was inspiring for the group.”

It’s not just physical and environmental benefits the work will achieve: it will be good for emotional wellbeing by connecting people. “The ‘scything group’ brings people together socially as well as being an excellent and eco-friendly way of maintaining the woodland. We also trained three volunteers in first aid, which will help us to offer volunteer opportunities to the public.” The group has started offering public volunteering days.

“Despite the short timescales, this has been a really enjoyable and useful project, which we can build on in the future – we hope to connect with other scythers which will bring new people to the woodland. It will demonstrate ‘eco-friendly’ maintenance which could influence others to do something similar.”

The Eco Development Fund allowed further developments for the group. They also bought cycle racks and benches. The group organisers are keen to promote active travel to the woodland, and with a secure space to lock bikes they can encourage people to cycle to the woods to help. The benches will also provide a place to sit for those who walk the 1.5 miles from West Calder to the woods rather than driving. With fitness, friendship and helping the environment using traditional skills and active travel, the group are looking forward to watching the woodland and its volunteers thrive.