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Let it grow this No Mow May

Posted on: Monday, May 2, 2022

The District Council are once again joining the No Mow May initiative and letting the grass grow in certain areas of local green spaces and country parks.

First launched in 2019 by the botanical charity Plantlife, the No Mow May campaign asks people to let nature flourish and lock up their lawnmowers for the month of May. The aim of the campaign is to let the grass grow and wild flowers bloom, in doing so a ‘nectar feast’ is provided for pollinators such as honeybees, bumblebees, butterflies and moths, and beetles.

During the month of May the District Council’s Grounds Maintenance team will be cutting back on the mowing of certain areas around the district and focusing on other environmental activities. Various District Council-owned green spaces and country parks will be left to grow as part of campaign.

The areas will include sections of:

  • Barnby Road Play Area
  • Bishops Drive Cemetery
  • Blidworth Church Cemetery
  • Clay Lane
  • Library Garden
  • Newbury Road
  • Ossington Church Yard
  • Polkington Crescent Winthorpe Village
  • Sconce and Devon Park
  • Thorpe Oaks

Full meadow areas will be left at:

  • Boughton Open Space
  • Sherwood Heath
  • Vicar Water Country Park

These specific areas have been chosen in order to ensure there are still areas being mown which will still allow residents to continue activities such as dog walking, and allow children to play in more maintained green spaces. Areas such as road verges are the responsibility of Nottinghamshire County Council so are not included in the District Council’s plans for No Mow May.

Councillor David Lloyd, Leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council said: “I encourage our residents to join us in No Mow May. Leave your lawnmower in the shed for the month and let’s do our bit for nature.

“I hope that taking part in the No Mow May campaign will allow our communities green spaces and country parks to bloom with wildflowers and allow wildlife such as pollinating insects like bees and butterflies to thrive.”

“We’re always working to make Newark and Sherwood a cleaner, safer, greener place to enjoy and this is just one initiative we are bringing in to do just that. Join in the campaign, make a beeline for our beautiful parks and green spaces to come and see what we’re doing and let’s hope it makes a positive change.”

Research from the campaign has previously shown that mowing your lawn less frequently can provide enough pollen and nectar for ten times the amount of bees, butterflies and other pollinators and insects. The research also showed more than 200 species of plants, including rare meadow flowers, were found flowering within the grasses that were left to flourish.

Why not join the District Council in taking part, and let your garden grow for May!