Scythers set to at Tolworth Court Farm Moated Manor, a nature reserve off Old Kingston Road.

Twelve volunteers were given lessons in scything techniques and then worked their way across the 2.4 acre site, skirting around the yellow meadow ant hills which would have been destroyed if heavy machinery was used to mow the grass, as well as preparing the meadow for grazing by cattle in the autumn.

Jenny Day, one of the volunteers, said: “I think we have learned – and done – a lot. It’s all very good for the hips and arms! We’ll all have flat bums and slim waists by the end of it!”

For more about the scything project read the next Good Life, out next month.

Pictured are front from left: Jenny Day, Kate Shrimpton and Gaye Burrows. Back from left: Malcolm Burrows and Bill Chilcott