Country diary: cutting-edge technology from the stone age

Wellington, Somerset: The blade is shaped like a toucan’s bill and the long wooden handle has the pleasing curve of a well-balanced spineIt was the first cut of the season, and I was out with my friend and UK scything champion Andi Rickard. We headed for a small triangle of common land known affectionately as Norman’s Folly.We laid our scythes down and stood among the tufts of grass, dead nettles and celandine. Andi showed me how to attach the blade by sliding down the ring at the to