Bradford Council has thrown its support behind the No Mow May campaign, championing the initiative to allow grass to flourish, benefiting wildlife and combating carbon emissions.
The national campaign, spearheaded by conservation charity Plantlife, advocates for leaving lawns untouched throughout the month of May, enabling wildflowers and grass to thrive.
Plantlife highlights a staggering statistic: since the 1930s, the UK has witnessed a decline of approximately 97 percent in its meadowlands. This loss has had dire consequences for pollinators like bees and butterflies, depriving them of vital food sources.
By letting grass grow long and allowing wildflowers to blossom, communities can provide essential habitats for wildlife, mitigate pollution, and sequester carbon beneath the earth’s surface.
Bradford Council, responsible for managing numerous green spaces including parks, recreation grounds, cemeteries, and highway verges, has designated 85 sites across the district to undergo natural growth throughout May. These include well-known areas such as Harold Park in Royds, Memorial Gardens in Keighley, Harden Park Bankings in Bingley, and Lister Park in Manningham.
Furthermore, the council has committed to extending periods between mowing for various sites during spring and summer, allowing grasslands to mature and flower. Specific areas with significant bulb plantings will remain untouched until June or July, while wildflower and annual seed zones will be permitted to develop naturally throughout the summer months.
Catherine Smith, Bradford Council’s Street Cleansing and Parks Service Manager, said: “No Mow May is a great way to bring nature back to our parks and green spaces. We are looking to implement ‘No Mow’ on some of our sites to sustain biodiverse area and natural preservation. We all need to do what we can to create a more sustainable district for the future.”