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16
May
More people are taking part in No Mow May – but not the deer
Have you mown the lawn recently? A lot of people – and bees – are hoping the answer’s no.
That’s because we’re halfway through No Mow May, the annual conservation campaign that encourages gardeners to let their lawns grow throughout the month of May.
Emerging bees and butterflies often struggle to find food in early spring, so by letting grass and wildflowers grow freely, the initiative, which is promoted by conservation charity Plantlife, helps provide them with vital habitats and nectar.
That can also have the welcome knock-on effect of supporting local populations of birds and small mammals.
Wildflowers growing on the Stray near Beech Grove.
Lawns are wildlife havens
The issue is of particular concern because of the decline in pollinating insects. According to the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), the statutory nature adviser to UK governments, the distribution of pollinators declined by 23% from 1980 to 2024, and hoverflies were particularly hard hit, with numbers plummeting by 44%.
There are various reasons for this, including disease and the use of pesticides, but a major factor is habitat loss. The UK has lost 97% of its wildflower meadows since the 1930s, which means that lawns are increasingly important havens for wildlife.
This southern marsh orchid growing just a few feet away from a main road.
One body that appears to have taken that lesson to heart is North Yorkshire Council, which has for some years been taking No Mow May a step further by leaving strips around the edges of Harrogate's Stray unmown so that wildflowers can grow.
Not mowing improves biodiversity
The policy has been derided by some sceptics, who have dismissed it as a cost-saving measure, but its ecological benefit is well established. Last year, we reported that Harrogate resident Kevin Walker, who is head of science at the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland, had identified three native species of orchid – the common spotted orchid, southern marsh orchid and bee orchid – growing on the uncut verges and fringes of the Stray.
He said gardeners could encourage these species by not mowing their lawns from mid-May to the end of July.
This year, the Stray Ferret has spotted another unusual species growing just near one of the paths that cut across the Stray. Dr Walker identified it as Cardamine pratensis – also known as lady's smock, cuckoo flower or mayflower – and added that it is usually found in meadows, and so is “a hint to the grassland that was there before it became the Stray”.
Lady's smock (Cardamine pratensis) growing on the Stray.
Another body that takes its responsibilities to pollinators seriously is the National Trust, which participates in No Mow May across its estate.
Neville Tate, head gardener at the Trust-owned Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, told us:
Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal takes part annually in No Mow May to give nature a helping hand, allowing wildflowers to bloom and providing vital food and habitats for bees, butterflies and other pollinators.
By letting areas of grass grow longer, we’re supporting biodiversity across the World Heritage Site landscape. While the East Green [below] won’t be mown again until autumn, the team will continue to cut some areas so there will be plenty of space for picnics and games over the summer.
As for Studley park – the deer understandably won’t be taking part in No Mow May!
Wildflowers growing on the East Green at Fountains Abbey. Photo: National Trust.
Vary the grass length
Like the deer, one place that is not taking part in No Mow May is the Himalayan Garden at Grewelthorpe, but that's only because it already has extensive areas of wildflowers. Head gardener Paul Dibb told us:
We're quite fortunate in that we've got space for multiple management styles, including wildflower meadows. So No Mow May is not something we'd participate in – because we're already doing it through the year.
But it's a great initiative for people to consider. It's really caught on in recent years, which is a good thing, because we've lost so much habitat, so what's left is really important.
Some people struggle with the 'unkempt' look, so it may be a good idea to cut a buffer to 'frame' the unmown part so it still looks cared for. Varying grass lengths is good for nature too, because some some species, such as waxcap fungi, prefer a shorter sward.
Foxgloves stand tall among the wildflowers in the streamside garden in the Himalayan Garden at Grewelthorpe.
Whether you're taking part in No Mow May and want to prolong it, or you want to belatedly start and keep it up through the summer, you'll be in good company. While the campaign is timed to provide food and habitat in early spring, pollinators need all the help they can get, so a lot of people carry on letting the grass grow wild right through the warmer months. Welcome to Let It Bloom June and Knee-high July!
What do you think of No Mow May? Have you been letting your grass grow? And have you spotted any unusual species? Let us know at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.
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