Environment Group News / Parish Council

One Man Went to Mow…

- by Webmaster

… went to mow a meadow.

A message about No Mow May from the ASPC Environment Group

You know the nursery rhyme, or is it a song? Anyway, I used to like the bit where I could say Woof! Woof!

So, in May, there is now a drive for us all to not mow our grass – No Mow May. Now, grass means different things to different people. Some people, if they live in towns or cities and are lucky, typically have a patch of the green stuff outside the front and/or back of their homes.

For them, not mowing the grass for a month may not be a big deal – but for the flora and fauna it can be.

Now if you live in a more rural landscape (like many of us), not mowing in May can have a hugely positive impact on those critters and flowers.

So below is an article you might find interesting.

PS. The only green space that the Parish Council has some control over is the Old Cricket Field. The terms of our lease mean that the council must maintain this space as a sports field which means cutting the grass. However, the council has decided to leave a substantial area uncut to support our local biome (orchids included!) – and only cut the grass in the areas closer to the pavilion. A compromise, but one the council had to make.

Anyway – here is the article. It’s from Plantlife, which is a registered charity in England, Wales and Scotland.

Diana

Why your Lawn Matters

We don’t need to venture far afield to make space for nature.

Our lawns and green spaces can be colourful kingdoms of organisms all coexisting, bursting with life and potential. Take a closer look.

  • Your lawn is an ecosystem in itself – below the ground there’s a complex world of fungi and microbes living among the roots.
  • Above the soil, plants form mini jungles which shelter, feed, and support all kinds of beasties from insects to birds and mammals.
  • Our valuable green spaces can be teeming with life across the seasons – if we only give them a little room to grow. 

With over 23 million gardens in the UK, even the smallest grassy patches add up to a significant proportion of our land which, if managed properly, can deliver enormous gains for nature, communities, and the climate. 

Consider starting short for spring

Your April lawn may already be a showcase for early wildflowers such as Primrose, Cowslip, Lady’s-smock, Lesser Celandine or violets.

If you have a spring-flowering lawn featuring those species…

  • You may want to avoid mowing in April, consider restricting your spring mowing to March with a blade setting high enough to pass over the emerging leaves of your spring flowers.

Have a lawn without these early spring blooms?

  • Many wildflowers make their best start to the season from a short lawn.
    • This is because fast growing grass can smother wildflower seedlings growing slowly through autumn and winter.
  • An end of season close mow in late autumn may be good enough to ‘start from short’ in spring but you may need to make a first cut in early spring from March to April.
  • Choose a time when the ground is reasonably dry

Aim to maintain at least 2 lengths of grass throughout and beyond No Mow May

  • May marks the onset of the summer and the start of a season full of brilliant blooms, colour and life!
    • That buzz doesn’t die down at the end of May and will continue well into autumn.
  • Giving some areas a monthly cut will surprisingly let shorter flowers multiply, boosting nectar production.
  • Leaving other areas longer will support more specialist, tall plant species, which feed and shelter an array of animal life.
  • Some completely untouched grassy strips left along hedgerows and fences will create effective ecological corridors along which wildlife can move.
  • Variety is key for a wilder garden!

Our native species have evolved in a wild and varied landscape

  • To support as many of them as possible we need to replicate this diversity where we can.
    • This means there’s no one ‘best’ way of managing your lawn for wildlife – using a diversity of gardening methods will maximise the number of species your garden can support.  
  • Data shows that the lawns with the highest number of wildflowers are those which have patches of various grass lengths.
    •  Introducing a variety of different grass lengths in your garden creates lots of different microhabitats in which a large range of species can live and thrive.

We know that some parts of your garden will need to be kept short, such as paths and recreational lawns for playing

  • Just think carefully about where, and how large, these patches need to be.
    • Any relaxation of the mowing regime in these areas will have huge effects on the number of flowering plants in your garden and give wildlife that much needed support throughout the summer.
  • Achieving this diversity in lawn length can be done creatively, such as having short grass paths winding their way through wilder swathes of long grasses.
    •  This way, you can create a wildlife haven suited to the character of your garden.  
  • Creating a range of grass lengths around your garden will have the biggest benefit for biodiversity.
    •  We need to break away from the narrative that wilder gardens are simply neglected or overgrown; after all, the habitat for many of our wildflowers would have been maintained in a natural landscape by wild grazing animals.
    • These areas should be valued as beautiful sanctuaries, sheltering and supporting an enormous number of species. 

  Nature-friendly Mowing Tips

  • A flowering lawn should be mowed once every 4-8 weeks with cut grass collected; meadows and structural grassland should never be mown,  just manually trimmed for saplings or hand pulled for invasives. 
  • Never mow around the edges towards the centre.
    • This leaves wildlife no escape route and creates a ‘killing zone’.
    • Progress gradually towards sanctuary areas such as uncut grass strips at boundaries, making a high level cut first before following with a lower cut if you start to detect wildlife such as frogs, toads and voles.
  • Following a meadow cut with a rake will help to prepare the ground for more wildflower germination in the following season.

Be blooming proud of yourself

If you want to do that bit more for nature, commit to a longer-term change in mowing to see biodiversity blossoming across the season and beyond.

  • Over time, more and more plants will arrive if you give them a chance and long-term participation in No Mow May over consecutive years will see the greatest benefits for nature.
  • By signing up for this campaign you have become a seed of hope, championing the promise of a wild summer at a time when it’s never been more important to support our plant and animal species.
  • There is enormous strength in collective action, and every single person involved in this campaign is contributing to a healthy, buzzing, nationwide garden in which nature can thrive and flourish.

For more information and details please look at the following website:

https://www.plantlife.org.uk/campaigns/your-no-mow-may-lawn-guide

No Mow May is an annual campaign, initiated by Plantlife, that encourages people to skip mowing their lawns in May to boost biodiversity and provide nectar for pollinators.

  • The campaign aims to let wildflowers grow in lawns, providing food and shelter for insects and other wildlife.
  • No Mow May is an annual campaign urging everyone to pack away the lawnmower.
    • This allows wildflowers to grow freely and help nature.
  • Whether you’re in a city, town or the countryside, it’s super easy to take part.
  • No lawn is too small!
  • Even the smallest wild patch can provide vital food needed by bees and butterflies, connecting us with nature and giving nature the best start to summer.

Why do we need No Mow May?

Approximately 97% of flower-rich meadows have been lost since the 1930s, and with them, the vital food and habitat needed by wildlife.

Your garden can help!

  • A healthy lawn with some longer grass and wildflowers helps to tackle pollution, benefits wildlife and can even lock away carbon below the ground.
  • There are more than 20 million gardens in the UK, so even the smallest grassy patches can add up and deliver enormous gains for nature, people and the climate.
  • No Mow May is the perfect starting point for summer and leaving a mix of grass lengths in your lawn means you’re giving nature the boost it deserves.

How it works

  • Skip mowing:
    • During the month of May, participants refrain from mowing their lawns
  • Let wildflowers bloom:
    • This allows wildflowers and other plants to grow, providing a variety of flowers and nectar for pollinators like bees and butterflies.
  • Boosts biodiversity:
    • By not mowing, lawns become more diverse and offer habitat for a greater range of wildlife.

Benefits

  • Pollinator support:
    Provides a critical food source for pollinators during a time when flowers are scarce.
  • Increased biodiversity:
    The campaign helps to increase the diversity of plants and insects in gardens and parks.
  • Reduced lawn maintenance:
    Participants are encouraged to cut back on lawn mowing, which can lead to lower maintenance costs.
  • Connect with nature:
    No Mow May offers a simple way to connect with nature and appreciate the beauty of wildflowers.

Give power to the flowers in 2025 and take part in the No Mow Movement!