Letting verges and parts of your garden is great for nature in all sorts of ways.
Butterflies
We are in a butterfly emergency!
This summer, the Butterfly Conservation Trust are asking people across the UK to make a promise to butterflies and moths. Will you put away the lawnmower and let your grass grow long – all the way from April to September?
You can play your part and sign the Butterfly Conservation’s promise:
- Mow the lawn in early April, then leave it!
- Wait until at least mid-August to mow again, or September if you can
- Always leave at least 20% uncut
https://butterfly-conservation.org/make-your-promise
No Mow May
No Mow May™ – Plantlife’s No Mow May is here – let’s give power to the flowers! NoMowMay is one of the easiest ways to help and connect with wildlife, and the perfect way to start supporting nature in your garden (in May and beyond!).
You can join the many other organisations, councils and individuals signing up for No Mow May on the Plantlife website. You will also find a useful guide to No Mow May. But don’t stop at No Mow May, go for Let it Bloom June and maybe leave a patch unmown for the whole year.
https://www.plantlife.org.uk/campaigns/your-no-mow-may-lawn-guide/#why-your-lawn-matters
Help Restore Biodiversity with Blue Hearts for Pollinators
Rewilding part of your garden or outside verge is one very easy step to help restore UK biodiversity with habitats including long grass, hedges and ponds. If you want a healthy garden full of colour and life, rewilding is for you. It takes less effort than conventional gardening, and all of the plants are already in place, waiting for a chance to grow – no wildflower mixes needed.
If you are worried how your neighbours will view your rewilding efforts, put out a blue heart to start a conversation and show it is an intentional act! The Blue Campaign, founded by wildlife filmmaker Fergus Beeley, uses blue heart symbols to signify areas where rewilding efforts are underway, promoting biodiversity and supporting pollinators.
Climate Action Stokesley and Villages 