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Grass allowed to grow for No Mow May to support biodiversity across the district

Posted on: Tuesday, April 29, 2025

It’s another year of No Mow May meaning throughout May, Newark and Sherwood District Council’s Street Scene Team will carefully select areas around the district that will be left to grow.  This will allow nature to take its course and provide wonderful biodiverse habitats for our district’s wealth of insects and wildlife.

First launched in 2019 by the botanical charity Plantlife, the No Mow May campaign encourages people to lock up their lawnmowers and let nature flourish for the month of May. The aim of the campaign is to let the grass grow and wildflowers bloom, in doing so providing a ‘nectar feast’ for pollinators such as honeybees, bumblebees, butterflies and moths, and beetles, and food for other creatures such as birds and small mammals.

Research from the campaign has previously shown that mowing your lawn less frequently can provide enough pollen and nectar for ten times the number 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.

Matthew Finch, Director of Communities and Environment at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “For another year running, we’ve joined the No Mow May campaign as it will help support our local environment allowing our green spaces and country parks to bloom with wildflowers and wildlife.

"Join the campaign by giving your lawnmower a break for a month and letting nature grow. Every effort, no matter how small, makes a difference."

The District Council will be leaving selected sections of grass to grow in the following areas:

  • Bishops Drive Cemetery, Southwell
  • Clay Lane, Newark
  • Edgehill Drive, Newark
  • Holy Rood Church Cemetery, Ossington
  • Marston Moor Road, Newark
  • Queen Elizabeth Memorial Garden, Newark
  • Parfitt Drive, Farnsfield
  • Rainworth Open Water, Rainworth
  • Sconce and Devon Park, Newark
  • Stanley Terrace Railway Walk, Newark
  • St Marys Church Cemetery, Blidworth
  • Vicar Water, Clipstone
  • Winstanley Drive, Newark

The District Council is also working with partners to leave even more areas of the district to grow. In partnership with Newark Town Council the following areas will be left:

  • Barnby Road Play Area
  • Friary Gardens
  • John Pope Way
  • Riverside Park

All the specified areas have been chosen in order to ensure there are still areas that remain mown so that residents can safely continue activities such as dog walking and children playing in maintained green spaces.