9 May 2023 – Every year gardeners across the UK are called on to stop cutting their grass and participate in the No Mow May movement. And this year is no different.
In an effort to give wildlife more space that is suitable and increase biodiversity, Plantlife has started the No Mow May campaign. Every year in May the wildlife charity asks all gardeners and managers of green spaces not to cut their grass.
According to the charity, the UK has lost almost 97% of wild flower meadows since the 1970s. There are more than 20 million gardens in the UK, so turning them into flower meadows can have a huge impact on nature.
And it’s easy to do, because all that is needed is that gardeners stop cutting their grass during May. So are you in?
Why Wildflower Meadows Are Important
Wildflower meadows are patches of land where a mix of grass and wildflowers grow. They support a huge amount of insects, mammals and birds, which means they are important to create and maintain biodiversity.
The main role of wildflowers is as a food source for a wide range of insects, especially pollinators. Already, we have lost 33% of pollinator species between 1980 and 2023. These pollinators and other insects themselves are a food source for other animals, such as birds and mammals.
And pollinators are also important when it comes to feeding us humans. According to WWF, more than a third of the food we eat worldwide can only grow if pollinated. So without these beneficial little insects, growing food for humans would be expensive and take a lot of time.
Because without pollinating insects our fruit and vegetable plants would need to be artificially pollinated, which is not an easy or quick task.
But wildflower meadows can do so much more. They can help reduce the risks of floods. Because of the amount of different plants with different root systems, the soil is much more stable than in a pure lawn.
As a result, meadows can hold rain water much better, which helps to prevent flooding.
Meadows are also vital in our fight against climate change, because their soil can store as much carbon as a woodland. On top of that, they also reduce greenhouse gases.
So leave the grass cutter in the garage or shed this month and join the No Mow May movement to give nature space to do its thing.
Go Local When Choosing A Wildflower Seed Mix
While No Mow May is a great campaign that makes it easy for people to support nature and wildlife, there are other ways to create a wildflower meadow.
Digging out your grass and scattering a wildflower seed mix is another way to create a wildflower meadow. The advantage of this method is that you can control what wildflowers will grow. And a recent study by researchers of the University of Lund has found that this is important.
To create a meadow that works for the insects and pollinators in your area, it’s vital to go local. This means growing wildflowers that are already growing in the local area.
Our old meadows have subtle differences – there might be species that only grow well in Devon and Cornwall, for example.
Matt Pitts, Meadow Adviser at Plantlife
The researchers warn people not to buy any generic wildflower seed mix, as this risks losing regional diversity. Instead, conservationists suggest people approach local nature reserves or nature-friendly farmers and ask if they would share some of their wildflower seeds at the end of summer.
Don’t collect seeds further away than you can cycle is usually a good rule of thumb.
Maj Rundlöf, Ecologist at the University of Lund
People are encouraged to check wild areas in their neighbourhood, such as verges and nature reserves, to find out which wildflowers grow naturally in the area. This is the best way to ensure the wildflowers grown in meadows fit in the local area.
Another problem with generic wildflower mixes is that they tend to contain flowers that would not grow together naturally, such as common poppies, corn marigold and cornflowers.
Experts also advise that a healthy wildflower meadow should contain food in winter and a mix of grasses that are growing all year round.
There are wildflowers that a wide range of insects and pollinators will visit. Yellow rattle is a native yellow flower that keeps grass under control. This parasitic plant allows more delicate wildflowers to get through and thrive.
Oxeye daisies are a firm favourite for bees and butterflies. Common knapweed doesn’t just look beautiful; a wide range of butterflies species love them too.
Field scabious is loved by bees and birds alike and the delicate flower will also be a sight to behold in any wildflower meadow.
So whether you join the No Mow May movement or scatter wildflower seeds, give nature space and enjoy the diversity of flowers and wildlife.
