Scything courses and workshops across the UK. Learn to scythe and master this traditional rural skill, which uses a large curved knife on a pole or 'staithe' to hand mow grass or reap crops. The scythe was traditionally used for cutting hay and initially replaced the sickle, a similar but smaller hand tool, by being ergonomically more advanced and comfortable. Scything involves a left swinging motion or stroke to create a 'swathe' of cut grass. Good exercise!