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| 1 |  » Stats |
Members: 54,065
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Top Poster: aeshna5 (16,070)
| | Welcome to our newest member, bz1970 | |  | | 
28-10-2011, 05:50 AM
|  | Dame Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: London
Posts: 5,934
| | | Reed bed clearance - tools for the job
Very excited at the moment to planning to do some volunteering clearing reed beds in front of hides for the RSPB in a week or so.
This is a new area for me. It was a relief when the organiser asked us to bring some tools. Poor tool maintenance really bugs me - this way I get a say in the matter.
I love buying new tools, better than a new dress or something boring like that. 
So, what's the best tool for lopping down Phragmites anyone??
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Wildlife Manager, A.R.A.S. |
28-10-2011, 06:45 AM
|  | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cumbria, on the southern boundary of the Lake District National Park.
Posts: 5,993
| | | Re: Reed bed clearance - tools for the job
You'll love this site, Deb. product list.html
Some brilliant stuff there but I would advise not to do the "peening" - it's really quite a skill in itself.
The EA use Turk scythes with an aluminium handle up here for Phragmites, I'll enquire as to the best model this morning and let you know. |
28-10-2011, 06:51 AM
| | Dame Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: London
Posts: 5,934
| | | Re: Reed bed clearance - tools for the job
Thanks Woodman. 
Scythes are brilliant. I sometimes watch clips of girls scything on YouTube just for fun (you may know some of the ones as they get a lot of hits).
Can I transport one on the bus though?
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Wildlife Manager, A.R.A.S. |
28-10-2011, 06:56 AM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cumbria, on the southern boundary of the Lake District National Park.
Posts: 5,993
| | | Re: Reed bed clearance - tools for the job
Carrying anything with a sharp edge in public is fraught with difficulty. I'm willing to wager that half the women on the bus have sharp tongues.
A short guarded and detached blade from a Turk can put in a bag and the handle used as a crutch. The opportunities are endless, just remember to send us a pic! |
28-10-2011, 07:05 AM
| | Dame Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: London
Posts: 5,934
| | | Re: Reed bed clearance - tools for the job
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Wildlife Manager, A.R.A.S. |
28-10-2011, 07:12 AM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cumbria, on the southern boundary of the Lake District National Park.
Posts: 5,993
| | | Re: Reed bed clearance - tools for the job
and you mine! I've just found out that there is a Cumbrian Scythe Festival. Courses | Scytherspace
I'll have to dig out my vintage English blade. A beautiful and distinctive sound - scything. |
28-10-2011, 08:09 AM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Watford, Hertfordshire.
Posts: 5,743
| | | Re: Reed bed clearance - tools for the job
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Woodman  Carrying anything with a sharp edge in public is fraught with difficulty. I'm willing to wager that half the women on the bus have sharp tongues. | A woman I met talked a lot and very fast. A friend of mine remarked "She could clip a hedge with her tongue!".
Jim |
28-10-2011, 08:51 AM
|  | Member of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Galloway
Posts: 471
| | | Re: Reed bed clearance - tools for the job
Quote:
Originally Posted by Deb London Very excited at the moment to planning to do some volunteering clearing reed beds in front of hides for the RSPB in a week or so.
This is a new area for me. It was a relief when the organiser asked us to bring some tools. Poor tool maintenance really bugs me - this way I get a say in the matter.
I love buying new tools, better than a new dress or something boring like that.
So, what's the best tool for lopping down Phragmites anyone?? | Well if you are planning on clearing phragmites with a scythe take a good pair of gloves, a good stone and plenty of energy drinks - you will need all three - and a good pair of wellies.
Best thing for clearing phragmites is a 360 excavator preferably with a long reach boom, but I guess that would be difficult to get on the bus 
If you want to take a scythe on public transport then take the blade off and put a couple of bits of light ply or stiff cardboard on each side of the blade and then wrap it securely with gaffer tape so that there is absolutely no question that the blade is shielded and not accessible. Gaffer tape the blade to the snaith for ease of carrying and expect a few very strange looks. It might also be prudent to have something in writing from the RSPB to back up where you are going and what you are doing.
If you are buying a scythe then get it in time to fit a wire span between blade and snaith and check that the blade alignment is correct - the last one I bought needed a bit of heat and bending to get it working right.
A powerful brushcutter with a three or four cornered blade is far more effective than a scythe.
Have fun and let us know how you get on - if you really enjoy it I have a few acres of juncus that need cutting-its got a bit wet for the tractor!
Cheers
mac  |
28-10-2011, 09:14 AM
| | Dame Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: London
Posts: 5,934
| | | Re: Reed bed clearance - tools for the job
Wow, thanks for all that advice mac. Some of those would be difficult to carry on the bus. LOL
The best thing to do is to meet everyone and check they are OK sorts and discuss the scythe (though might get one anyway as I have been a fan for a while). Need to make sure I'm reasonably happy with the group and attention to safety, boring as that may sound to some. And there could well be the possibility of a lift in a private vehicle, especially for someone as well kitted out as I will be by then.
No Jim, my tongue just won't do. Ha, ha!
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Last edited by Deb London; 28-10-2011 at 09:18 AM.
|
28-10-2011, 10:28 AM
|  | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: West Molesey, Surrey
Posts: 6,860
| | | Re: Reed bed clearance - tools for the job
Having cut many acres of reedbeds over the years, I wouldn't use anything without an engine to cut reed.
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