No Mow Meadows
No Mow May is a national campaign led by Plantlife, encouraging green spaces to be left unmown during May. As land managers, Meadfleet has both an opportunity and a responsibility to support wildlife across our open spaces.
By following the principles of No Mow May we can support invertebrates (insects, spiders etc.) and in turn birds, reptiles, amphibians and small mammals.
We carefully select small areas to be left to grow to ensure other areas are still available to be enjoyed by residents.
Why?
The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the developed world – as an example we have lost 97% of our wildflower and hay meadows in the last century. By allowing selected patches of vegetation to grow throughout May we are providing valuable habitat for pollinating insects and other wildlife. By taking part in this national campaign, we are helping to address this biodiversity crisis.
To find out more about ‘No Mow May’ visit Plantlife’s website.
The Benefits
By allowing areas of grass to grow throughout this period more species can flower, creating an attractive appearance and providing nectar for pollinating insects.
The vegetation also provides shelter for wildlife, and taller grasses are essential for the larvae of a number of butterfly species.
As well as providing a huge benefit for wildlife the encouragement of such natural habitats is beneficial for people too – being close to nature is proven to improve our health and wellbeing.
How does it work?
Our operations team will assess areas that might be suitable to be left to grow based on a number of factors including how the area is used and the potential for interesting species and flowers to grow.
The area will be left to grow during May and sometimes in to June to maximise the benefits. We will typically keep a mown border along the edge of the area being left to grow.
Our routine maintenance contractors will still be completing their usual visits, working on other areas of the development.
Why not try No Mow May at home? Leave a patch of grass to grow and see what appears.
You can also create your own wildflower area with a free packet of seeds – just complete the form below!