No Mow May is an annual nationwide campaign established by the botanical charity Plantlife. It encourages garden owners, local councils, and land managers across the UK to lock their lawnmowers away for the entire month of May.
But why should we cease mowing? What are the advantages on private and public land?
The text below and the infographic explain why not mowing is essential for pollinators.
The Core Purpose
The initiative aims to provide a vital lifeline for pollinators. Since the 1930s, the UK has lost approximately 97% of its flower-rich meadows. With over 20 million gardens in the UK, residential lawns represent a significant opportunity to create “mini-meadows” that replace this lost habitat.
Key Benefits
- Nectar Production: Letting “weeds” like Dandelions, Daisies, and White Clover bloom can provide ten times more nectar for bees, butterflies, and moths.
- Biodiversity Boost: Longer grass provides essential shelter for a range of wildlife, including hedgehogs, frogs, and beetles.
- Climate Resilience: Taller grass helps the soil retain moisture during dry spells, reduces local temperatures through transpiration, and can even lock away more carbon below ground.
How to Participate
- Stop Mowing: Simply leave your mower in the shed from the 1st to the 31st of May …. if not longer.
- Flexible Approach: If you cannot leave the whole lawn, you can designate a specific “wild patch” or mow small paths through the longer grass to keep the garden functional.
- Beyond May: Participants are encouraged to join the “No Mow Movement” by extending the break into “Let it Bloom June” or leaving some areas completely unmown until late summer to allow plants to set seed.
By doing “nothing,” you transform a sterile green space into a thriving ecosystem that supports the very insects responsible for pollinating much of our food.
Feel free to downplay and/or print the infographic for use at home or on social media
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