Hackney ,
17
October
2014
|
09:15
Europe/London
Residents can watch and take part when experts scythe London Fields wildflower meadow
wildflowermeadow1.jpg
Hackney Council is proving scythe matters by calling in experts on Saturday to cut London Fields meadow by hand in order to prepare the ground for next year’s crop.
Residents can learn how to use scythes, a traditional agricultural hand tool, when the London branch of the Scythe Association tackles the football pitch-sized pictorial meadow between 10am and 3.30pm.
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Most of the plants will have flowered by now and they will be starting to die so it’s important to remove nutrients from the meadow to enable the flowers to flourish again next year. We decided to ask the Association to help us this year as it’s more environmentally friendly than using a vehicle, it’s also healthy for those taking part, and it’s a chance for people to learn a new skill.
Cllr Jonathan McShane, Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care and Culture, Hackney Council
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Residents who want to find out about scything can turn up on the day but those wishing to turn their hand to the old-fashioned farming technique must wear steel toe-capped boots.
If you would like more information on Saturday’s free event, contact Niki Efstratiou on 0208 356 6482.