Join the No Mow May movement and liberate your lawn

More and more people are embracing wilder lawns and the bountiful biodiversity benefits they bring says nature charity, Plantlife, as it reveals that 92.4% of those who surveyed lawns last year chose to No Mow May – give the lawnmower a month off and let wild flowers get summer ready.

Plantlife’s No Mow May – the blossoming grassroots movement towards wilder lawns – benefits spring wild plants as they are able to set seed before they are felled by mower blades.

The increased plant diversity provided by letting a variety of wild plants get a foothold in May is a boon for pollinators, including bees and butterflies, who feed on plants through the summer.

Plantlife is highlighting the importance of garden lawns and green spaces against the backdrop of the alarming decline of grassland habitats.

A staggering 97% of wildflower meadows have been eradicated in less than a century and this has moved once widespread plants like Ragged Robin, Field Scabious and Devil’s-bit Scabious on to the Near Threatened list in England.

Considering the behavioural shift, Ian Dunn, CEO, Plantlife, said: “The immaculate bright green bowling green lawn with its neat stripes may have historically been the desired garden aesthetic but, increasingly, we’re seeing a cultural shift which sees wilder lawns buzzing with bees and butterflies becoming highly valued.

“A radical shift in attitudes towards lawn management is underway and it is to the benefit of plants, pollinators, people and planet.”

As people prepare to let their lawns go wilder and let nature weave its magic this month Plantlife reveals the wild plants most recorded on British lawns.

Daisies, Creeping Buttercup, Yellow Rattle, Common Birds’-foot Trefoil and Field Forget-me-not comprise the top five, with Meadow Buttercup, White Clover, Common Mouse-ear, Oxeye Daisy and Dandelion rounding out the top ten.

The proliferation of Yellow Rattle on British lawns is a biodiversity boost as the semi-parasitic plant possesses an unrivalled ability to act as 'nature's lawnmower', reducing coarser grasses and allowing more delicate wildflowers to flourish.

The appearance of Common Birds’-foot Trefoil on lawns is especially great news for other wildlife; the ‘super plant’ - that resembles eggs and bacon - is a rich source of food for 140 different insect species.

Nicola Hutchinson, Director of Conservation, Plantlife, issued a rallying call: “Wild plants and fungi are the foundation of life and shape the world we live in.

“However, one in five British wildflowers is under threat and we need to urgently address and arrest the losses.

“With an estimated 23 million gardens in the UK  how lawns are tended makes a huge difference to the prospects for wild plants and other wildlife.

 

 

“The simple action of taking the mower out of action for May can deliver big gains for nature, communities and the climate so we are encouraging all to liberate lawns as never before.”

A more relaxed mowing regime for our lawns can help combat the climate crisis in more ways than one.

All of our garden lawns could add up to the size of Bedfordshire, covering as much as 125,000 hectares of Great Britain. Plantlife estimates they could be cut as many as 30 million times a year under a weekly regime.

This would be equivalent to the consumption of 45 million litres of petrol resulting in 80,000 tonnes of annual carbon dioxide emissions or the combined carbon footprint of about 10,000 average households.

However, the benefit of less mowing is not only felt above ground. Less regularly mown lawns are home to more, different species of wild plants and fungi.

A greater diversity of roots has the potential to improve the carbon capture potential of soil beneath our lawns by as much as 10% - equivalent to 20 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.

This is similar to the domestic annual emissions for Heavy Goods Vehicles in the UK.  

Plantlife encourages nature lovers to No Mow May, but guidance does not suggest not mowing at all after May.

Plantlife botanists recommend a balanced approach to lawn care throughout the year with collection of the cuttings.

This can involve a mixture of shorter zones and taller, more structural areas, which will boost floral diversity and supports other garden wildlife too. Mowing twice a year will maintain a meadow. Mowing once every 4-6 weeks will maintain a shorter, re-flowering lawn where beauties like Bugle, Self-heal, Red Clover and Lady’s Bedstraw can thrive.

Mark Schofield, Road Verges Advisor, Plantlife, commented: “The removal of cuttings is crucial to encouraging plant diversity.

“When cuttings are left to rot down on lawns, this enriches the soil and creates an environment where more competitive grasses and species like nettles, hogweeds and thistles take over, smothering the rest of our wild flora.”