Scything volunteers restoring meadows to help bees thrive

By the Editorial Team · Friday, September 18, 2026

English Heritage has trained a team of volunteer scythers to manage meadows at Muchelney Abbey using traditional hand-cutting methods to support the endangered shrill carder bee. This project, in partnership with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, aims to improve habitats for rare pollinators while preserving historical skills and expanding meadow restoration across Somerset.

A new team of volunteer scythers is being trained to help restore historic meadows and support one of Britain’s rarest bees, English Heritage announced. The initiative seeks to revive the traditional practice of hand-cutting grass, a method historically used by roaming scythers who traveled between meadows, often receiving food and drink as compensation.

The volunteers are applying this age-old technique to manage the meadow at Muchelney Abbey in Somerset, one of the few locations in the country where the shrill carder bee remains. The effort forms part of a three-year partnership between English Heritage and the Bumblebee Conservation Trust aimed at improving habitat conditions for the struggling bee species, which has declined significantly due to the loss of flower-rich grasslands.

Alongside their mowing duties, volunteers have been trained by the Bumblebee Conservation Trust to conduct detailed wildlife surveys. These surveys monitor the interaction between the bees and the meadow ecosystem, tracking which flowers bloom and which plants the bees utilize.

The scything team members received their training from the Exmoor National Park Authority and are expected to expand their work to other designated English Heritage sites across Somerset. These trials will explore how traditional grass-cutting skills can complement current meadow management practices to benefit local wildlife.

Those initially trained have now qualified to instruct new volunteers, continuing the practice’s revival. Following historical custom, volunteer scythers will receive bread and cheese as a token of appreciation for their work.

Ginny Slade, Volunteer and Community Engagement Manager at English Heritage, described scything as “a wonderful example of how traditional skills can still have a role in addressing modern challenges.” She added that the project aims not only to foster diverse, flower-rich habitats essential for pollinators but also to preserve centuries-old knowledge that has shaped the British landscape.

The meadow at Muchelney Abbey, a former wealthy monastery site, is part of English Heritage’s broader commitment to create and enhance 100 meadows nationwide in celebration of the King’s coronation in 2023.

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