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English Heritage Launches Volunteer Scything Initiative to Protect Rare Bees
By Drooid · · How we work
Volunteer Scything Initiative Launch
English Heritage has begun a three-year conservation project at Muchelney Abbey in Somerset, training volunteers to cut meadow grass by hand with traditional scythes. The pilot team, taught by the Exmoor National Park Authority, will manage the meadow while monitoring wildlife, particularly the shrill carder bee, one of the United Kingdom’s most endangered pollinators.
Historical and Conservation Context
The meadow at Muchelney Abbey is one of 100 grassland sites English Heritage pledged to create or enhance to mark the coronation of King Charles in 2023. Habitat loss has reduced the shrill carder bee to only a handful of locations across the country, prompting a partnership with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust to restore flower-rich grassland essential for the species’ survival.
Program Structure and Goals
Volunteers receive specialist training to operate scythes—a low-impact method suited to sensitive wildlife areas—and to conduct surveys tracking flowering plants, bee foraging patterns, and habitat changes over time. In addition to practical skills, participants are rewarded with traditional bread and cheese, echoing historic “roaming scythers” who were paid in food rather than money. English Heritage intends to expand the trained team to other heritage sites in Somerset once the pilot proves successful.
Official Statements & Responses
English Heritage describes the effort as a way to blend heritage skills with modern ecological challenges, emphasizing that hand-cut management can benefit insects and wildflowers where mechanised tools might cause damage. The Bumblebee Conservation Trust highlights the importance of creating diverse, flower-rich habitats to support pollinator populations.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Scything is a wonderful example of how traditional skills can still have a role in addressing modern challenges. We hope to help create the diverse, flower-rich habitats that pollinators need while also preserving knowledge and skills that have shaped our landscapes.” — Ginny Slade, community engagement manager
- “You want a really good scythe,” — Ginny Slade, community engagement manager
- “Scything is a wonderful example of how traditional skills can still have a role in addressing modern challenges.” — Ginny Slade, community engagement manager
These statements underscore the project’s dual aim of preserving traditional landscape practices while addressing contemporary biodiversity concerns.