What is ‘No Mow May’? The movement aiming to boost nature in UK gardens – here are the benefits

Gardeners are joining a push to make their lawns grow in May, a survey has revealed as the start of an annual campaign to reinvigorate nature in gardens.

The ‘No Mow May’ campaign, run by wildlife charity Plantlife, is urging people to leave their lawnmowers in the shed for the month of May to allow the grass and wildflowers to bloom.

Wilder grasses during the warmer months can help support bees, pollinators, butterflies, small mammals and other wildlife.

Plantlife said the movement was growing, with analysis showing that a third (32%) of participants who signed up for last year’s campaign were first-time participants.

Opinion Matters’ survey of 2,001 adults in March found that two-thirds (66%) believe their garden can make a real difference to nature.

The research also suggests that letting grass grow may be a social choice; Six in ten people aged 25 to 34 say they would be more likely to join the movement if their neighbors did.

Plantlife CEO Nicola Hutchinson said: “Your garden is one of the easiest ways to help nature and provides a lifeline for wildlife, but social pressure keeps the grass short.

“There is no Mow May, it is time for action: to come together as communities, to let the grass and wildflowers grow, and to turn that belief into real change.”

Last year, homes in the Tunbridge Wells, TN postcode topped the list of people growing their lawns in May, according to registration data.

This was followed by the Brighton area (BN postcodes).

The conservation organization has previously noted that around 97 per cent of wildflower meadows have disappeared in less than a century, with once common plants such as scattered robin and field scabies now listed as imminently threatened in the UK.

After No Mow May, Plantlife recommends mowing less frequently throughout the summer.

According to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), there are more than 25 million gardens in the UK, meaning they make up a significant portion of the landscape.

If managed correctly, even the smallest patches of grass can help benefit nature, communities and the climate, Plantlife said.

Even leaving a few areas of gardens unmown can help increase lawn biodiversity, the charity said.

Gardeners can mow some areas for trails or recreational purposes while allowing grass to grow longer in others, so that flower diversity and nectar production thrive and multiple microhabitats are created for a variety of species to live, gardeners added.

For those without a garden, a balcony, patio or garden can be turned into a small haven for plants and pollinators, Plantlife said.

The charity said local authorities and communities could manage green spaces in churches, schools, parks and roadsides to encourage wildflower growth.

It also encourages gardeners to stay away from herbicides, fertilizers and moss killers; because all of these can harm wild plants in the lawn. It is also recommended to give plants time to set seeds before mowing and to remove grass clippings after mowing to prevent nutrients from accumulating on the lawn.