Cambridgeshire County Council has noted Plantlife’s call for organisations to take part in “No Mow May”, an initiative to promote biodiversity, allowing a wider range of plants and insects to thrive.
The council is keen to support the initiative and will be taking part in areas where it doesn’t cause safety concerns for residents or motorists.
The cutting of grass areas will be paused in some areas to allow plants like daisies, dandelions and clovers to flower, providing important food for caterpillars from some of our best loved butterflies and moths. Letting wildflowers and plants grow freely will provide much needed nectar for pollinators and allow other plants and wildlife to grow and flourish.
However, great care will be taken to ensure cutting continues in places where road safety would be in any way impacted by poor visibility or where pavements and cycle paths would have reduced width making them less safe. Residents are encouraged to contact the council if there are places where they become concerned about safety issues for drivers, pedestrians or cyclists.
The council is also encouraging their farm tenants to take part and county council owned buildings, including New Shire Hall, will see green space managers lock up their lawnmower and liberate the lawns for the month.
More than 700 species of wildflowers grow on road verges in the UK according to Plantlife – this is almost 45% of the total wildflower species found across the country.
Cllr Lucy Nethsingha, Leader of Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “No Mow May is a great initiative that helps support biodiversity and nature, allowing flowers to attract pollinators. I was amazed at how beautiful the grasses were when I let my own garden grow last year.
“Becoming more aware of how we can increase the biodiversity of our beautiful county is something everyone can do, whether in a small way through window boxes or small urban gardens, or with organisations like the county council by looking at what we can do to encourage an environment where more plants and animals can thrive. Whether it is through small personal actions, or wider policies, we all want to see a greener Cambridgeshire.”
Cambridgeshire County Council is committed to tackling climate change and improving the natural environment.
