Rowing up in the evening. The greener rows cut by the Stackpole team can be seen towards the back.
Yesterday 7 volunteers and wardens from the Stackpole Estate, a National Trust property in Pembrokeshire, came on a course to learn how to use the scythes that they have bought for use on the estate.
After the boxes of scythes had been unpacked and set up, we went off to the field to mow. They picked up the techniques quickly, and soon the sound of seven scythes swishing through the grass could be heard. It was hot work – we would not normally cut so late in the morning as it is uncomfortable in the heat, and harder work too. During the heat of the day the grass is dry and hard and the scythe blade blunts quicker. Frequent honing (sharpening) of the blade is necessary to keep mowing easily. In all the group spent about two hours practising mowing, with a stop for lunch in the middle. In that time a substantial area of grass was cut, to the obvious satisfaction of the participants.
While the course participants retired to the relative cool of the barn to learn about the art of peening, I returned to the field to spread the windrows of freshly mown grass. Usually we avoid working in the field in the heat of the afternoon, but sometimes needs must!
The whole family returned to the field after supper to row up all the hay on the field. It was enjoyable working in the cool of the evening and the children enjoyed running through the rows as they were created. Nothing was quite ready to be carted yet.
The picture below is of Phil mowing at 7am this morning. Mowing conditions are much more favourable while the dew is still on the grass and it is cooler too. He is extending out to the right of his swing in this picture, to enable him to mow a wide swath.
Phil mowing at 7am this morning.