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wildflowers on uncut lawn

No Mow May

Our founder and chairman, Professor David Hill CBE is the chair of Plantlife, a charity focused on the conservation of wild plants and fungi. They have launched "No Mow May" in the UK, encouraging people to refrain from mowing their lawns in order to help biodiversity, which we strongly support at Environment Bank. Here are some key points about the movement:

Grassland habitats in the UK:

  • 97% of wildflower meadows have disappeared in the UK in less than a century.
  • 1 in 5 British wildflowers are currently under threat.

Top wild plants spotted on British lawns:

  • Daisies, Creeping Buttercup, Yellow Rattle, Common Birds’-foot Trefoil, and Field Forget-me-not are the top five wild plants spotted on British lawns.
  • Other plants in the top ten include Meadow Buttercup, White Clover, Common Mouse-ear, Oxeye Daisy, and Dandelion.

The benefits of No Mow May:

  • Allows Spring wild plants to set seed before being cut, promoting plant diversity and aiding pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
  • Helps tackle the climate emergency by reducing emissions and capturing carbon.
  • Provides habitats for a wider range of wild plants and fungi, which in turn can help improve soil health.
  • Encourages people to engage with nature and wildlife, including building bug hotels and admiring garden wildlife.

Plantlife's recommendations for lawn care:

  • No Mow May is encouraged, but a balanced approach to lawn care throughout the year is recommended, with collection of cuttings.
  • Mowing twice a year will maintain a meadow, while mowing once every 4-6 weeks will maintain a shorter, re-flowering lawn.
  • A mixture of shorter zones and taller, more structural areas is suggested to boost floral diversity and support garden wildlife.

 

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Environment Bank