I want to try scything, but don't really fancy swinging a razor sharp blade at ankle height
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Yeah, prob best to ask others to stand back!
It was one of the first conservation tasks that I ever did - also in Norfolk, as it happens.
There is a knack to it and there certainly are safety considerations - especially around sharpening them - but you really have to be doing something profoundly wrong to get anywhere near your own ankles.
It is very satisfying once you get the hang of it though.
Scything is good exercise, causes no air or sound pollution and scythes are orders of magnitude easier to maintain, store and maneuvre than mowers. Moving more slowly also gives wildlife more time to be noticed or to move to safety as well. You do need a lot of manpower to cover a large area though!