We’re offering free training in traditional scything and hand baling techniques this July on the meadow outside Gwenfro Valley Adventure Playground on Thursday 13 July between 10am and 2am.
There are many benefits involved with this time-honoured form of grassland management. Scything has been around for hundreds of years and is actually still one of the most efficient tools for cutting grass. Not only is it wonderfully quiet and eco-friendly; it only uses human power; making it great exercise too!
Wildflower meadows require annual maintenance to allow the more desirable species to flourish and reduce the vigour of more dominant species so cutting now will help. Cutting the wildflowers at this time of year helps maintain a diverse mix of flowers and grasses and helps ensure they return next year.
Refreshments will be available but please bring along a packed lunch. The meadow was created during the Green Infrastructure Project with North Wales Wildlife Trust and has been scythed ever since, making it a perfect place for a training day. We have had scything days on the meadow outside Gwenfro Valley Adventure Playground for the last 3 years now and we would like to expand this technique to more areas around Wrexham, creating a team of trained volunteers that can support communities throughout the county.
The tradition of managing meadows with the scythe goes back to a time when farms and communities helped and supported each other with manual work in the fields. The open spaces around Wrexham are wonderful areas for people to enjoy and wildlife to flourish. Wrexham Council would like to encourage more people to get involved with the management of their green spaces to build connection with the land as well as support communities to learn about nature conservation. For more information please email Jacinta.challinor@wrexham.gov.uk.
