No Mow May – what you need to know!
Lock up your lawnmower and get ready for No Mow May!
No Mow May is an annual campaign from Plantlife, now in it's 8th year.
The idea is simple, don't mow your lawn during May to allow the grass to grow and to give insects and pollinators a better chance. But it's often not quite as easy as that. Our gardens are often fulfilling multiple roles eg as areas for children to play, and modern gardens aren't really designed with nature and wildlife at the front of mind.
In a recent podcast episode I chatted to Sarah Shuttleworth, Specialist Botanical Advisor at Plantlife, all about the campaign, and to get some questions answered. From that I've pulled together an entirely made up list of 'FAQs' that is hopefully helpful!
Q. I like my lawn to look neat - why should I take part?
A. In the UK we have lost 97% of our species rich grasslands, with a devastating impact on insects and other wildlife.
If you add up the total area of our gardens, it’s equal to an area bigger than all our national parks. By letting our grass grow longer, we can provide much needed habitat for wildlife.
Q. I’ve already mown my lawn this year - can I still take part?
A. Yes!
Leaving some unmown areas in the summer months is what we’re aiming for so it doesn’t matter if you’ve mown in early Spring.
Q. I’m worried the neighbours will complain.
A. Make a sign, like the blue heart in this pic, or download one from the Plantlife website.
Q. I don’t have a lawn - can I still take part?
A. Yes!
Talk to your local school, church, or other community group.
Or grow a meadow in a pot!
Check out the blog post on the Plantlife website for more ideas.
Q. Will I end up with a beautiful wildflower meadow?
A. Probably not (sorry!).
But you will end up with far more wildlife than you would have done, which is what we’re after!
Q. What do I do at the end of May?
A. Ideally keep going!
How about ‘Let it Bloom June’? Or ‘Knee High July’?! And then cut at the end of the summer.
Q. How do I stop my husband obsessing about the lawn and wanting to mow it..?
A. Literally no idea. Answers on a postcard please.
(Before everyone goes nuts in the comments, this is tongue in cheek, I know it’s ‘not all husbands’. And also that boyfriends/wives/girlfriends/partners etc might also have different views on lawn mowing during No Mow May...)
Do check out all the brilliant resources (including free downloadable signs, and social media graphics) on the Plantlife website.
And sign the No Mow May pledge!
