Scything Services

Quiet, Clean, Wildlife-Friendly Land Care in Wiltshire

At Earth & Easel Studio, I offer traditional scything as an ecological and mindful alternative to strimming. Using hand tools and heritage techniques, I cut meadows, orchards, paths and overgrown spaces in a way that supports biodiversity, protects soil, and leaves a natural finish — all without fuel, fumes or noise.

Why Choose Scything?

Scything is the traditional method of cutting grass and vegetation by hand using a long curved blade and a smooth, sweeping rhythm. It’s quiet, low-impact, and ideal for wildlife-friendly gardening, particularly where preserving habitat matters — such as in wildflower meadows, orchards, naturalistic borders, and untamed corners.

Unlike powered strimmers, scything:

  • Causes no disturbance to wildlife

  • Uses no fuel or emissions

  • Is gentler on soil and roots

  • Leaves a beautiful, natural-looking finish

  • Allows you to truly care for your land, not just manage it

What I Offer

I provide one-off sessions or seasonal contracts tailored to your space:

  • Wildflower meadow cutting (late summer)

  • Overgrown grass and rough patch clearing

  • Path and orchard maintenance

  • Verge and boundary scything

  • Allotment prep and annual tidy-ups

  • Soft land restoration and ecological care

How a Scything Session Works

Each session begins with a quiet walk of the site and setting up with the right blade for the job — a fine, lightweight blade for meadows and lawns, or the more versatile and durable ditch blade that handles everything from meadow grasses to tougher, tangled vegetation. Scything is done with a smooth, flowing technique close to the ground, producing a clean and even cut.

I sharpen the blade throughout using a whetstone to keep the edge keen, and depending on the job, I’ll rake the cuttings into neat piles or swathes for composting or removal. Every step is done with care — not just for the result, but for the ecology of the land itself.

Pricing

Every piece of land is different — I offer site-specific quotes based on area, terrain, and the needs of the space.

You can expect rates to reflect the time, craft, and care involved in traditional scything — all without the noise and disruption of modern machinery.

Get in touch to request a quote or talk through your site.

Who It’s For

I work with a range of clients who value sustainable land care:

  • Homeowners with meadows or natural gardens

  • Wildlife-friendly gardeners and rewilders

  • Smallholdings and ecological stewards

  • Churches, village greens and community land

  • Allotment holders and caretakers of wild corners

Book a Scything Session

To book a session or request a quote, email me at kai.lever@protonmail.com

or use the contact form on this website.