No skiving, get scything!

We all know that you ’Make hay while the sun shines’ but can you make hay while the rain pours?

After an initial panic that our mission would be cancelled due to torrential rain, 7 intrepid Goodgymers set out bound for north Liverpool to help Sustrans maintaining the loop line, a valuable off road trail for cyclists and pedestrians.

After a short run along the loop line, we met up with David from the charity who had set up ready to size us up for our scythes. We lined up in height order to be allocated our tools.

After a safety briefing and lesson on technique, we were let loose on an overgrown meadow. This area is known for wild orchids, which would be destroyed by a mower, so scything is the best way to clear the meadow without damaging them.

After working for around an hour and a half with our scythes, we then set to raking up the hay we had cut to form a compost heap. It was a relief to find that we had in fact been cutting the grass and not just flattening it with our amateur technique!

We then packed up to head home, some even ran the whole way back to the city centre! (Okay, it was just Char!)

Thanks to David for his patient instruction, and lugging all the tools out for us to use!

We really enjoyed learning a new skill, and hope to help Sustrans out again soon.