9 January 2026
8 min watch
Cutting grass like it's 999BC: Scythes at Kew
In our latest Dig Deeper video, meet the horticultural team at Kew Gardens using ancient tools to improve biodiversity.
At Kew, we’re at the cutting edge of technologies to help us understand the natural world and keep our gardens looking beautiful.
But that doesn’t mean we don’t sometimes take a look to the past to improve our biodiversity.
Join Charles and the horticulture team as they create a wildflower meadow using ancient scything techniques at Kew Gardens.
Plus, learn the importance of using yellow rattle to create the perfect environment for wildflowers, as well as why scything helps not only biodiversity but also human connection in nature.
Dig Deeper
Dig Deeper is an ongoing series that delves into the stories behind plants and fungi you know and love. Meet experts from Kew Gardens and Wakehurst, and dig a little deeper into foods, medicines and so much more from the floral and fungal world.
