Don’t mow in May and help nature recover

BEES, butterflies and wildlife in the Staffordshire Moorlands will be given a boost this Spring as some green areas of the district are left uncut as part of the national #Nomowmay campaign.

Plantlife’s annual campaign encourages residents to not cut their grass or wildflowers from May 1 until May 31 to provide a feast of nectar for our hungry pollinators.

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council and its grounds maintenance partner Alliance Environmental Services are taking part this year and will leave selected areas of Selbourne Road in Leek and Havlock Grove in Biddulph to grow during May.

These areas will be signposted to inform residents that they are part of the national campaign.

Councillor Joe Porter, pictured above, cabinet member for climate change and biodiversity, said: “Pollinators such as bees and butterflies play a vital role in spreading pollen which encourages the growth of a wide diversity of plants, flowers and foods including fruit, nuts and vegetables.

“Nature recovery is central to our plans for tackling the climate emergency so I’m pleased that the council and AES are supporting this national campaign. I will also be taking part and leaving my garden uncut next month.

“It’s something residents can easily get involved in as well – so why not join me, the council and gardeners across the country in locking up your lawn mower and letting your garden grow this May?”

#Nomowmay is also a great opportunity to take part in Plantlife’s Every Flower Counts survey. All you have to do is count the number of flowers in a square metre patch of lawn and Plantlife will tell you how much nectar they are producing and how many bees that will feed. You’ll also get your own personal nectar score.

From these results, Plantlife will calculate a national nectar index to show how lawns across Britain are helping to feed our pollinators. They’ll then reveal the top ten lawn flowers and show you how to increase the number of flowers in your lawn.

Find out more about #Nomowmay and

Every Flower Counts at www.plantlife.org.uk/ everyflowercounts