September is a time of great change in Finemere Wood. As the dazzling colours of summer flowers fade, warm autumnal hues take their place. Leaves turn scarlet and gold and gracefully float to the ground. Clusters of berries, deep purples and reds, are abundant along the hedgerows: blackberries, sloes, haws, and rose hips. Fungi, in shades of orange, yellow and brown take hold.

The volunteers are itching to get hold of saws once more and to move on to the winter work of cutting down trees and shrubs. But the endless summer cutting and raking of grassy rides and glades is not yet complete. This task is an important one as it not only prevents the encroachment of scrub but also keeps competitive plants under control, thus allowing a diverse array of the more delicate wildflowers to flourish year on year.

The scythe, with its long wooden handle (snath) and curved steel blade, is designed for cutting vegetation at ground level. Having been in existence since as far back as 500BC, the scythe only appeared in Europe during the 12th and 13th centuries. Originally used for mowing hay, by the 16th century it had replaced the sickle for reaping crops. It has since been succeeded by lawnmowers, tractors, combine harvesters, and brushcutters. 

The imagery of the Grim Reaper with his scythe evolved in the middle ages, at a time of agrarian societies. With his scythe, he reaps those at the end of their lives, just as man reaps the harvest, and thus makes way for new life.

There are a handful of keen scythers amongst the woodland workers. For them, the meditative, peaceful work of mowing with a scythe is far more appealing than wrestling with a relentlessly roaring brushcutter. Gently swishing and swaying through the tall grasses, it is a restorative workout for both the mind and body. 

An important tool in the armoury of a conservation worker, the scythe is an efficient and sustainable choice for cutting grass. There is no pollution, no fossil fuels, no noise, and, properly maintained, a scythe will have a far longer lifespan than a machine. Not only that, but scything gives wildlife more time to get out of the way of danger.

I watch the scythers mowing in the golden autumnal sunlight. The ancient meadow and tracks of Finemere Wood seem a fitting place for the rise of the scythe.

For further information about volunteering opportunities at Finemere Wood and other reserves, at our visitor centres and more, please email volunteering@bbowt.org.uk.

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