Young rangers learn to scythe at Ruthin's Nantclwyd y Dre

In the garden of one of Ruthin's oldest houses, a group of young people have been learning a skill that predates the tractor by centuries. Members of the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Young Ranger programme took part in a scything workshop at Nantclwyd y Dre, learning how to manage the wildflower meadow by hand.

Scything, a method believed to date back to Roman times, involves cutting grass with a long curved blade set at an angle on a handle. Before tractors, this was how hay was harvested across Denbighshire. It is also wildlife-friendly: it gives animals time to move out of the way and lets the person scything spot and avoid disturbing them, while removing the cut vegetation keeps soil nutrients low and encourages wildflowers.

"It was fantastic to see the Young Rangers getting hands-on experience of a traditional skill while also making a real contribution to the conservation of the gardens," said site manager Kate Thomson. "The two sessions demonstrate how looking after our historic spaces and protecting wildlife can work hand in hand."

The workshop followed a bat survey earlier in the year, organised by Denbighshire Council's biodiversity team, which monitored the house's protected roost of pipistrelle, lesser horseshoe and brown long-eared bats. Both activities shared the same goal of managing the meadow for the insects and other creatures that rely on it.

The gardens at Nantclwyd y Dre are managed to support wildlife such as hedgehogs while preserving the heritage of the site. Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts, the council's lead member for heritage, said the joint work of the countryside and heritage services and the Young Rangers was a great example of how traditional skills can support local biodiversity while giving young people valuable experience.

Nantclwyd y Dre is a historic house and garden with centuries of history under one roof. It is currently closed for daily visits for the autumn and winter season, but remains open for group visits, school trips, room hire and filming.

The house is due to reopen to the public on Saturday 27 March 2027. Group bookings and details of the Young Ranger programme are available through Denbighshire County Council's website.