Poldark sparks interest in country crafts

Poldark star Aidan Turner famously made female viewers swoon by scything topless, but his activities have also boosted the numbers of those wanting to learn more about the country craft.

Bathed in sweat and swinging the hand tool wildly, the Irish actor was criticised for his technique, but some instructors from the Scything Association in Britain have dubbed the renewed interest in the ancient mowing method the “Poldark effect”.

Andrea Gilpin, who runs courses in the Welsh borders area, said the BBC television series, about the life and loves of 18th century Cornish man Ross Poldark, had encouraged those thinking about learning the country activity to take it up. She said: “It was brilliant the way it got things going and people talking. What I hear is a lot of trainers did feel the news boosted interest.”