The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan is inviting gardeners and faith communities across Ireland to help wildflowers grow and feed hungry pollinators by mowing the lawn just once a month for No Mow May, Let it Bloom June, and Help them Fly July.
Every year, more people ‘join the buzz to save the bees’ by putting away their lawnmower for the month of May and letting wildflowers grow. The result has been gardens and communities full of native wildflowers including orchids, and a feast for our hungry pollinators.
But it’s not just about May. Reducing mowing to just once a month can help keep pollinators fed across the summer. So why not take part in Let it Bloom June, and Help them Fly July?
On the island of Ireland, one third of our wild bees are threatened with extinction. This is mainly because of hunger – there isn’t enough food to support them in our landscape. If all of us chose to put our lawnmowers away for one month, we could start creating a network of places where pollinators can survive and thrive.
Kate Chandler, Communities and Engagement Officer for the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan says:
“Mowing less is one of the best ways to help pollinators. When you reduce mowing, and remove grass clippings when you do mow, soil fertility goes down, and wildflowers that can’t handle nutrient-rich lawns have a chance to grow. You’ll be amazed by what’s in the soil waiting to appear.”
“We’re in the middle of a biodiversity crisis. Across the island of Ireland, one third of our pollinators are in decline. But local populations are increasing where actions are being taken to help them. That proves we can make a real difference if enough of us take the right actions.”
“We often get asked ‘what happens if my grass grows too long’. It would be unusual for too much grass to grow after four weeks, unless your lawn is very fertile. But if you’re worried, raise the blades on your lawnmower and do a cut – that way you save the flowers underneath. Or just choose a small part of your lawn or a strip to do No Mow May. Every space helps, no matter how small.”
“Some large landowners like councils might struggle with No Mow May due to dealing with huge volumes of grass clippings in one go. In these cases, a longer-term schedule of different mowing regimes would have a bigger impact for pollinators.”
Participants in No Mow May can expect to see common wildflowers like Dandelions, Clovers and Self-heal, which in turn could attract insects like the Grey Mining Bee and Peacock Butterfly, and birds like Goldfinches.
No Mow May is an annual campaign started by Plantlife in the UK, asking everyone to put away the lawnmower during the month of May to help our native wildlife. Native Irish wildflowers like Dandelions, Clover, and Birds-foot trefoil provide the best source of pollen and nectar for our hungry wild pollinators. By mowing less, we can give them a chance to appear naturally – no seeds needed!
More information – https://pollinators.ie/no-mow-may