Somerset volunteers revive centuries-old tradition to protect threatened bees

Scything volunteers trained to help protect rare bee population

The traditional way of cutting meadows and grassland is kinder to wildlife than mowing.

New generation being trained in age-old skill used in Britain for hundreds of years

A new team of volunteer scythers are being trained to help restore historic meadows and support one of Britain’s rarest bee species, according to English Heritage.The charity is reviving the centuries-old tradition of “roaming scythers”, who once travelled between meadows using traditional hand tools to cut grass and hay.In return for their work, they were often rewarded with food and drink such as bread, cheese and cider.The newly established v…

English Heritage trains new generation of scythers to maintain meadows and craft

Somerset volunteers revive centuries-old tradition to protect threatened bees

An unusual conservation project at a historic Somerset site is combining ancient skills with modern efforts to protect a struggling species