Is scything a good workout? What do you rake-on!?

This morning we met up with some volunteers from Transition Bath to cut the grass at the nuttery at Smallcombe Vale, on the Bath Skyline Walk. We continued with our previous efforts of scything back the waist-high grass and raking it all off to compost at the edge of the field.

This was our third weekend and we managed to cut a large swathe of grass in the middle of the nuttery. There was a big focus this week on not just getting it done, but getting it done well to make sure the grass was cut at an even level.

We were on the lookout for mini-beasts of all varieties, having found some toads last time. We thought we were going home without a sighting, but right at the end of the session a magnificent dragonfly landed on a scythe cover for us all to enjoy.

At the end of the session Keith and Tim, our hosts, kindly offered us some freshly pressed apple juice and recently picked apples from one of the orchards they maintain. It had been a tiring morning so we were glad of the sugar boost. True to form, Keith spent some time insisting that passing members of the public take some of the apples that he had brought along - what a true gentleman.

Next Saturday we are going to finish the job - we only have one section at the top of the field remaining. See you there!