No Mow May is a conservation campaign urging people to leave the lawnmower in the shed for the month of May. It is an annual campaign organised by Plantlife which urges everyone to pack away the lawnmower, let wildflowers grow freely, and help nature from everyone’s doorstep to thrive.
Not mowing a garden allows wildflowers to bloom, providing essential nectar for bees and butterflies early in the season, which in turn means that local bird populations will have more food available to them as the seasons progress and fledgling season begins.
According to Plantlife, approximately 97% of flower-rich meadows have been lost since the 1930s, despite there being roughly 23 gardens within the UK. With the loss of the flower-rich meadows and wild areas, vital food and habitat needed by wildlife, meaning that insect populations in particular have struggled to maintain their numbers over the summer months. This in turn has a knock-on effect for wildlife populations that rely on the insects as a stable food source during summer.
A healthy lawn with some longer grass and wildflowers helps to tackle pollution, benefits wildlife, and can even lock away carbon below the ground. It is stated that the whole garden does not have to be left long, as leaving a mix of grass lengths in your lawn from May and beyond means that nature is being given the boost it deserves. From No Mow May, Plantlife also carry on the #NoMowMovement, through ‘Let it Bloom June’ and beyond to encourage and educate people on how to manage their lawns for nature all year round.
If you are like me and don’t have a garden with grass, there are other ways to get involved with the movement, including what plants to pot in your garden to promote insect activity.
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