Gardeners Unite: Let the Grass Grow in May to Help Nature Thrive!

• The Plantlife initiative called No Mow May encourages individuals to keep their lawnmowers stored away.
• Letting grass grow without mowing enables wildflowers to blossom, aiding wildlife support.
• Charity suggests that the effect might be considerable if millions allowed just a portion of their land to remain uncultivated and develop naturally.

Approximately half of all gardeners plan to aid nature and wildflowers this May by limiting mowing to no more than once during the month, according to a recent survey.

The Plantlife initiative called No Mow May encourages individuals to skip using their lawnmower throughout the entire month.

This enables the grass to grow long and untended, allowing wildflowers to flourish, thus supporting bees, butterflies, and various forms of wildlife.

According to the wildlife charity, 46 percent of over 2,000 respondents stated that they would not cut their grass more than once in May.

An additional 33 percent stated they would mow every two weeks or every three weeks, and fewer than one in five (18 percent) intended to do so weekly, with only 3 percent opting for even more frequent cuts, according to the poll conducted by Opinion Matters.

According to Plantlife, an increasing number of local authorities are supporting this initiative as they work towards providing habitats for native flora and fauna, and addressing the climate emergency by reducing carbon output.

For the first time this year, the charity has extended an invitation to local authorities to demonstrate their backing, with over 40 of them joining forces to oversee the maintenance of verges and green areas for wildlife conservation purposes.

The poll conducted by Plantlife revealed that individuals recognize the significance of maintaining less manicured lawns for biodiversity, as approximately 73 percent agreed that allowing grass to grow undisturbed for at least a month benefits butterflies, bees, and various forms of wildlife.

Moreover, 84 percent deemed it crucial to prioritize environmental care and contribute to conservation initiatives in their daily routines.

Only 17 percent believed that keeping their lawns neatly trimmed through frequent mowing was more crucial than fostering wildlife by allowing the grass to grow longer.

Ian Dunn, CEO of Plantlife, stated: "The support for Plantlife's initiative is growing wonderfully as individuals acknowledge the advantages for flora, humans, pollinators, and the environment from reducing late-season mowing."

The simple gesture of letting the lawnmower rest for a month, followed by reducing lawn maintenance throughout the summer, can have significant impacts during these times when we confront interconnected climate and biodiversity crises.

According to Plantlife, converting even a modest area of lawns into more natural grass habitats across numerous gardens throughout the UK might have considerable consequences.

Nearly 97 percent of wildflower meadows have vanished within just one hundred years, according to the conservation group. They also warn that formerly common species like ragged robin and field scabious are now nearing threatened status in England.

Following No Mow May, Plantlife suggests reducing the frequency of mowing throughout the summer months.

Cutting the grass twice annually will keep a meadow well-maintained, whereas mowing every four to six weeks will produce a more compact re-flowering lawn, allowing species like bugle, self-heal, red clover, and lady’s bedstraw to flourish, according to the charity.

Following research conducted by another wildlife organization, Butterfly Conservation, which revealed that allowing an area of lawn in gardens to remain uncut significantly increased butterfly populations—especially in urban settings or regions with extensive farming—No Mow May was initiated.