No Mow May 2023 hits the Isle of Wight
It’s May (seriously, when did that happen?) and gardens around the UK are bursting into life. Hayfever sufferers, which include me in their number (being a gardener was perhaps not the obvious career path), can sniff – or rather, sniffle – that something is afoot. The jewel-like tones of primroses, snowdrops and daffodils are passing, and we have the fanfare of bluebells and forget-me-nots to cherish and every other floral to look forward to.
May also represents the commencement of another activity, too. One that is, let’s say, somewhat less of a celebration of nature. More of a subjugation of it. I am, of course, talking about THE MOWING.
But #NoMowMay is a growing movement. Quite literally, in fact. Let’s dive in and see what it’s all about, and why downing the mower for a month can lend a much-needed hand to our wildlife.
What is No Mow May?
Put your hand down, Jimmy. We know that No Mow May is not mowing your lawn in May already. Perhaps the better question is Why?
Take a seat for this next fact: We in the UK have lost 97% of our wildflower meadows since the 1950s. So, let’s be real, that’s very nearly all of them.
Let’s have another: butterflies are down by 50% since just the 1970s.
And one more: 40% of insects are in decline, with up to ⅓ endangered.
Now, facts tell a desperate story fairly coldly, but I think these speak for themselves. Our lawns, all 20 million of them in the UK, therefore represent a VITAL habitat for insects of all kinds. Leaving your lawn for a month can provide up to 10 times the amount of nectar, the food of busy bees and other hungry pollinating insects.
In fact, every inch of grass left untrimmed helps retain humidity and soil moisture, making a perfect habitat for insects and their larvae.
How can I make my garden look pretty without mowing?
Right, the first thing I want to say to this is – it already will! Long swaying grasses, teeming wildflowers, buzzing insects, what’s not to love already?! Plonk a deck chair in the garden and watch this natural theatre erupt on balmy, sunny evenings.
But if you’re chomping at the bit for a little bit of curation, there’s a way to do this whilst retaining all the lovely biodiversity benefits:
Try mowing a winding, trailing path through your mini-wildflower meadow. Keeping this trimmed whilst allowing everything else to flourish will introduce whimsy and charm to your garden. This gorgeous impression will only grow as the plants either side of the path shoot upwards.
If you’re really getting into things, bring in a tiered lawn approach with sections of grass length at different heights. This’ll help the littler flowers bloom as well as the taller ones.
How can I get involved with No Mow May on The Isle of Wight?
- Leave the lawnmower in the shed for May. That also means setting the weedkiller down, too. Which is easy for us as we are an organic gardening business.
- Register for No Mow May at the Plantlife website.
- Record the flowers you see in any given metre square in your garden and upload your results to Plantlife’s Every Plant Counts page, where you can instantly receive your personal nectar score and directly understand the positive impact you’re having on nature.
I have an optional 4th step…
- Your lawn will be teeming with common wonders such as daisies, dandelions, clovers, buttercups, orchids, saxifrages. You’ll see everyday flowers in a whole new light. So, take time to rejoice in the beautiful everyday and in flowers you never knew were laying in wait beneath the soil.
Enjoy not mowing!
Oh, and if you need a gardener for any landscaping, designing or maintenance services, you know where to find me…
