4 Goodgymmers went to mow...went to mow a meadow. 4 Goodgymmers and - Ranger Tom - went to mow a meadow!!

We returned to the Braywick Nature Reserve for chapter 2 of meadow mowing!

Part 2: Honing our skills and blades Having learnt how to set up our scythes yesterday, we jumped straight in and fixed our handles and blades into the right places. Kelley was awarded a pinned blade as her skills topped the class yesterday! This blade had an extra‑sharp edge, and she earned it for mastering the basics.

We then took a lovely stroll through the nature reserve to the meadow and returned to where we had left off yesterday. Without too much instruction needed, we set about mowing another section — each of us practising and improving our mowing and honing skills.

Ranger Tom also helped finesse the setup of our scythes by sharpening our blades and adding wedges or adjusting the tang location to alter the blade angle. This prevented ploughing instead of mowing and helped us achieve a smoother movement.

Overall, we had another lovely session in the meadow and thoroughly enjoyed the time outdoors. It meant the result of the semi‑final was much easier to swallow as we were mellowed!

Next year, we’re going to aim to start learning to mow at the beginning of the season, and hopefully we’ll have a whole trained GoodGym team in the classic art.

5 GoodGymmers Went to Mow… Went to Mow a Meadow! 5 GoodGymmers — and Ranger Tom — went to mow a meadow!!

A different twist on our GoodGym mission this week: it’s a two‑parter special.

Part 1: Learning the Basics Ranger Tom kicked off the session by explaining why hand‑mowing the meadow is so beneficial. It gives a closer cut, lets wildlife safely move around, and helps wildflowers thrive because the soil isn’t compacted by heavy machinery.

We then learnt the parts of the scythe: the snath (the long handle), the tang (the part of the blade that connects to the snath), the lower and upper handles, the clamp, and the blade — which has multiple named parts of its own!

When you put your scythe together, it’s customised for each user. The snath comes in different lengths, and the handles are attached in the right spots based on your height and forearm length — your very own tronchantor stance.

The Dance of the Meadow Mower Once our scythes were built, it was time to practise the movement. Strong stance, light feet, and a smooth swinging motion: the Dance of the Meadow Mower. Then we added the scythes, practising keeping the blade on the ground and sweeping through the grass.

The final skill was honing the blade. Using a special wet stone, you push it along the blade to sharpen it — something you do regularly while mowing to keep the cut clean.

Into the Meadow We Go After practising, it was time to head into the meadow. We learnt that you mow in lines, working against the bend of the grass (otherwise you just skim the top), and you deposit a windrow as you go — the cut grass always falls to your left, away from the uncut section, forming a neat line across the meadow.

We spread out and practised our mowing and honing techniques, with Ranger Tom on hand to give tips and tweaks.

A Snath‑isfying Evening Overall, it was a brilliant evening learning a new skill, and we’re looking forward to returning tomorrow for more mowing — it’s a big meadow!

An amazing 10 GoodGymers joined other volunteers to continue hedge-laying on the edge of Battlemead Common. Many had returned after really enjoying the task a fortnight ago. We all got to grips with learning some new skills - pleaching, laying, weaving, facing off, and whittling stakes. Welcome to Emma, who joined Goodgym after coinciding with us for the 3rd time! Well done to everyone for getting stuck in and helping to create a habitat that will be there for decades to come. Kudos to Jen, Mick and Jane for fitting in Park Run first, and double kudos to Mick and Jane for staying all day

Hedgelaying at Battlemead Common was a quintessential GoodGym experience - outdoor, active, social and an opportunity to learn new skills. On a mild winter morning, seven GoodGymers met Braywick Rangers, WildCookham and local conservation volunteers to lay part of the wildlife hedge at Battlemead, along the Thames Path.

Today was day 2 of this activity and many present had already made a solid start yesterday. After the safety briefing, Ranger Tom gave us an introduction to hedgelaying: an ancient method to create natural barriers for wildlife and allow smaller animals to hide or travel along a safe corridor without being exposed to danger.

This is done by "pleaching" or laying down the 7 yr old trees which were planted for this purpose, making it a living structure! The trees are pleached (partially cut and bent), laid down, held in place with "weaving" the intertwining branches, held in place with stakes. Finally covered with "brash" (bush and branches which are cut away to make room to build the hedge) to prevent deer from eating berries and young shoots which will cover it soon.

So much to learn! Such a fascinating practice and fun as well!

We divided ourselves into groups: Angela, Viv, Diya and Nick tried their hand at pleaching. It was surprisingly nerve-wracking because you didn't want to be the one who cut through the whole thing killing the tree! Sheila, Kanika and Juli worked with Jane in weaving the hedge. The huge mallet for the stakes was a crowd favourite! Diya later worked with Ranger Rosie to cut branches to size and turn into stakes while Nick tried his hand at the stakes as well.

2 hours flew by and while some of us left at different times, Sheila stayed for the whole session, even recruiting Jane for GoodGym. Welcome Jane!

We'll be going back on 31st Jan/1st Feb, be sure to come along.

On a beautifully sunny, but chilly, morning, Georgeta , Sue and Sheila joined about 10 other volunteers at Ockwells Park for a community orchard pruning session. Rosie, one of the Rangers, took us through all the things to consider when pruning a fruit tree to enable the fruit to grow well. And then we were let loose on the trees! We divided into groups and each tackled a tree. With guidance from Rosie our confidence grew, and we piled up the cut branches under each tree. We certainly learned a lot and several of the apple trees are now in much better shape for next season. We can't wait until next autumn when we can taste the fruits of our labour!

GoodGym control to Ranger Tom... commencing mission, here come ten (of us)!

Ranger Tom to the GG crew... here's everything from hackers to shovel, and I'm ready as well.

Off we went with Ranger Tom, to get those invasive roses gone.

Bloody hard it turned out to be, but GoodGym spirit refuse to cede. Jen wouldn't stop till she hit antipode!

Rachel & Jess found the deepest root, for a twig sized rose that was barely a foot!

Gillian and Mike hacked away, Anne-Laure wouldn't back away.

Mick wielded the mattock like a man on a mission, there's no chance for the rose invasion!

Sheila, Diya and Kanika ganged (up), their mark were roots that were tangled.

GoodGym crew to Ranger Tom, we did our best, we gave it all... Ranger Tom to GG gang, it wasn't nothing and thank you all!