Pollinator walks and scything workshops to celebrate Kilkenny's ringforts and meadows

A series of farmland pollinator walks and scything workshops to celebrate meadows and ringforts across the North Kilkenny landscape will take place this summer.

The Song of the Scythe Project is supported by the Heritage Council and the organisers want to speak to landowners with a ringfort or other heritage site who would like to host a walk or to community groups interested in running a scything project.

Medieval shrine to be displayed this weekend in Freshford

During the series of scything meitheals and farmland pollinator walks participants will learn traditional practices for managing meadows and semi natural grasslands and about thes traditional land management practices to work together to restore and value these habitats.

The project is also an opportunity to celebrate important heritage sites in North Kilkenny.

Alongside these training opportunities, The Heritage Council has also supported the establishment of a Scything Tool Library which enables community groups who would like to manage a grassland area using scythes to borrow a set of scythes .

The first scything meitheal will take place at Rathbeagh on July 18. It is located in an ancient valley once called Mágh Airgid Rois (“The Plain of the Silver Wood”). Situated on the banks of the Nore Rathbeagh is home to the mound of Eireamhon. The workshop will cover how to set up the scythe and the mowing technique. We will spend time looking at the sharpening and maintenance of the scythe and discuss haymaking, wildflower meadow management and all types of vegetation. Scythes will be supplied for the workshop.

Interested community groups and landowners can contact info@slinacoille.ie or phone Maura on 0863104008