FOI request (FOIR-402833456)

No Mow May

Requested Mon 21 February 2022
Responded  Fri 04 March 2022

My dissertation is centred around Plantlife's campaign 'No Mow May', which encourages people to refrain from mowing their lawns in the month of May, in order to improve nectar availability for pollinating insects.

Would you be kind enough to respond to the following questions:

1. Has your council heard of the scheme 'No Mow May', designed by the wild plant conservation charity Plantlife?

2. Has your council implemented this scheme? If so, how?

3. Has the scheme been promoted? If so, how?

4. If you have not implemented the scheme, did you consider it and what were your reasons for not doing so?

Thank you for your assistance.

Response

1. Yes

2. A number of areas within public, green spaces are currently mowed twice a year to encourage wildlife and promote wildflowers. Some of these areas were reclassified during last year's mowing and were not cut until autumn, with the grass cuttings being collected, to encourage wildflower seed dispersal.

3. Yes, in 2021 the council issued a press release, advertised 'No Mow May' on the council website, social media and residents newsletter throughout the month of May.

4. Not applicable