For the past 7 years, thousands of people have joined Plantlife's No Mow May movement, choosing to give nature a boost by letting their lawns grow. No Mow May launched in 2018 to encourage people to manage their lawns for nature.
But No Mow May is just the beginning, it's followed by Let it Bloom June and Mow-saic months right the way through. Leaving grass and wildflowers to grow through the summer, even if it’s just a tiny section of your garden, can make a huge difference to biodiversity and local wildlife.
Over 40 local authorities have signed up for No Mow May, and this now includes East Hampshire District Council (EHDC).
Support for Plantlife’s campaign is growing across the country as people recognise the benefits to plants, pollinators, the planet and people, of mowing less and later for nature. The small act of giving the mower a month off, and then mowing less through the summer, can make a big difference at a time when we face interlinked climate and biodiversity emergencies.
However, it does have to be done right. PeCAN continues to put pressure on our local councils that manage our green spaces, to remove the arisings (cuttings), especially after the big end of summer cut, something they still fail to do. This important step will gradually reduce the nutrient load in the soil and favour our wild flowers and grasses that are so important for insects.
