Bee part of the solution and grow a bee banquet!
Each year, Plantlife and Wildflower Lewes (among others!) ask you to leave your lawn to grow throughout May. Lesley Healey of Wildflower Lewes explains why it’s so critical – with tips from Plantlife on nurturing a flowery lawn.
Each year, Plantlife and Wildflower Lewes (among others!) ask you to leave your lawn to grow throughout May. Not mowing allows the wildflowers that naturally occur within the grass (including ‘weeds’ like dandelions, daisies and speedwell) to flower.
May is a bee’s hungry month. There isn’t much in flower in gardens or the countryside, and there is stiff competition for the nectar and pollen from other flower-loving insects.
Our pollinators, notably bumblebees (but also butterflies, moths, wasps, beetles and others) need nectar and pollen to eat, establish a nest and feed their progeny so other bees will hatch to pollinate our food plants. Tiny flowers like speedwell and chickweed often carry loads of food for their size – size definitely isn’t everything!
So – be lazy this May, leave the lawn mower in the shed and see your lawn start to hum with insects! Here is Plantlife’s guide to a wildlife-friendly and manageable, flowery lawn that you can easily maintain all season.
There are also resources to help you to identify your lawn flowers and involve all the family in spotting what’s growing.
Spread the word!
Tell everyone how you’re helping nature by posting and tagging #NoMowMay on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn. Tell Wildflower Lewes what you’re doing by posting a photo of your lawn on Facebook and mentioning/ tagging @WildflowerLewes.