How would you mow this bank?

[gfreeman]

ATG said:

Make like the Grim Reaper and use a scythe. As no one ever said, "Strimmer for show, scythe for a pro". Pretty easy to learn how to use them, a damn sight faster than a strimmer and can handle much more than a strimmer can. Woody stuff, you want a brush cutter, but for stuff like nettles, brambles and tall mature grass, a scythe slices through them at a hell of a rate, yet can also give a really clean low cut to fine grass. No fuel, no batteries, no trailing cables. You just need a sharpening stone in your pocket to hone the blade every now and then. If I'm trimming round the edges of raised beds or whatever, then out comes the strimmer. But to knock back tall grass and nettles or work on awkward slopes, scythe.

God that takes me back to my childhood in Dorset. Cracking tool. My grandfather used one routinely and a sickle together with a stout stick. I got quite skilful at it but then life moved on.

I did look at scythes for my current place to clear nettles etc but wobbled a bit when I found a decent scythe was upwards of £150. so I bought a bladed head for my Makita strimmer instead.

[NDA]

ATG said:

Make like the Grim Reaper and use a scythe. As no one ever said, "Strimmer for show, scythe for a pro". Pretty easy to learn how to use them, a damn sight faster than a strimmer and can handle much more than a strimmer can. Woody stuff, you want a brush cutter, but for stuff like nettles, brambles and tall mature grass, a scythe slices through them at a hell of a rate, yet can also give a really clean low cut to fine grass. No fuel, no batteries, no trailing cables. You just need a sharpening stone in your pocket to hone the blade every now and then. If I'm trimming round the edges of raised beds or whatever, then out comes the strimmer. But to knock back tall grass and nettles or work on awkward slopes, scythe.

[Huntsman]

singlecoil said:

I would do that with a cordless hedgetrimmer, assuming the reality is the same as the impression I get from the picture.

Have a virtual large glass of port and a big chunk of cheese.

Brilliant!

[jagnet]

NDA said:

If anybody is interested in unleashing their inner Poldark and learning how to use a scythe, there's still plenty of beginners course places available on 11th June at the Green Scythe Fair in Somerset.



It's only mid May and I've already got my Poldark tan going on as I open up the lower meadow to clear a path to our summer bathing well:



Not sure that the watch strap line is period authentic though.

[DickyC]

jagnet said:

Not sure that the watch strap line is period authentic though.

Shackles.

[jagnet]

DickyC said:

Shackles.

Oh, you've met Mrs Jagnet then?

[DickyC]

jagnet said:

DickyC said:

Shackles.

Oh, you've met Mrs Jagnet then?