5 GoodGymmers Went to Mow… Went to Mow a Meadow! 5 GoodGymmers — and Ranger Tom — went to mow a meadow!!

A different twist on our GoodGym mission this week: it’s a two‑parter special.

Part 1: Learning the Basics Ranger Tom kicked off the session by explaining why hand‑mowing the meadow is so beneficial. It gives a closer cut, lets wildlife safely move around, and helps wildflowers thrive because the soil isn’t compacted by heavy machinery.

We then learnt the parts of the scythe: the snath (the long handle), the tang (the part of the blade that connects to the snath), the lower and upper handles, the clamp, and the blade — which has multiple named parts of its own!

When you put your scythe together, it’s customised for each user. The snath comes in different lengths, and the handles are attached in the right spots based on your height and forearm length — your very own tronchantor stance.

The Dance of the Meadow Mower Once our scythes were built, it was time to practise the movement. Strong stance, light feet, and a smooth swinging motion: the Dance of the Meadow Mower. Then we added the scythes, practising keeping the blade on the ground and sweeping through the grass.

The final skill was honing the blade. Using a special wet stone, you push it along the blade to sharpen it — something you do regularly while mowing to keep the cut clean.

Into the Meadow We Go After practising, it was time to head into the meadow. We learnt that you mow in lines, working against the bend of the grass (otherwise you just skim the top), and you deposit a windrow as you go — the cut grass always falls to your left, away from the uncut section, forming a neat line across the meadow.

We spread out and practised our mowing and honing techniques, with Ranger Tom on hand to give tips and tweaks.

A Snath‑isfying Evening Overall, it was a brilliant evening learning a new skill, and we’re looking forward to returning tomorrow for more mowing — it’s a big meadow!

6 Goodgymmers rallied to help not one but two beneficiaries tonight.

First up were ShareaLot who needed help removing the last few bits from the Nicholson Centre. The items were loaded into wagons and pulled over the road to storage at the Green Skills Library's new premises. The team made short work of this and the final boxes, signs, TV and mirror were swiftly relocated.

This left us a bit of time to help the Green Skills Library wrangle some bags of fabric and get them tied up ready to be moved. We even gave the floor a quick sweep!

Then it was off into the lovely dry evening and we will be back at the Green Skills Library on Wednesday!!

Five GoodGymers armed with litter pickers attempted a big clean up in the sunshine! Sol was first off the mark tidying up on the way to work. Christine and Carys followed closely behind clearing the streets of Maidenhead. Jane and Angela left the Furze Platt area in a cleaner state than they found it. It was Jane's first Goodgym task and she found it strangely satisfying!