Now, this article about how some villagers in England are transforming their neat lawns into wild havens for nature made me genuinely happy.
The article describes how some England villagers are embracing the “No Mow May” movement, promoted by the Plantlife charity, which encourages people to stop mowing their lawns during spring to allow their gardens to become more “wild” and biodiverse.
Plantlife recommends leaving gardens uncut not just in May but throughout summer to see what flowers, then cutting back in July or August after flowering has finished. Crucially, the cuttings should be removed to keep soil fertility low – while grass thrives on high fertility soil, wildflowers have evolved to become the opposite.
With each passing year, this approach can transform the diversity of a garden: allowing deep-rooted perennials to improve its soil structure, store more carbon and create an ecosystem for plants, birds, butterflies and bees.
“Your lawn is one of the easiest ways to help nature, yet social pressure still keeps the lawnmower running. No Mow May is the moment to break that cycle,” said Nicola Hutchinson, the interim chief executive of Plantlife.
Are you also doing “No Mow May” or something similar in your own garden?
