No Mow May is an annual initiative organised by the environmental charity Plantlife. It encourages people across the UK – and beyond – to lock up their lawnmowers on 1st May.

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By leaving your lawnmower in the shed and allowing your lawn to grow longer for the month of May, you can reap numerous benefits. This practice gives smaller plants like clover, daisies, and dandelions a chance to bloom, providing pollinating insects with an early boost.

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This is important as, since the 1930s, we have lost nearly 7.5 million acres of flower-rich meadows and pastures. Just 1% of our countryside now provides this floral feast for pollinators. With 15 million gardens in Britain, our lawns have the potential to become major sources of nectar.

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Bees and other pollinators are essential for sustainable agriculture and ecological balance, enabling the production of over 75% of global crops, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Their role enhances not only the quantity but also the quality and diversity of our food. Yet, they face growing threats from habitat loss, unsustainable farming, and climate change.

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World Bee Day 2025, with the theme “Bee inspired by nature to nourish us all,” emphasizes sustainable agricultural practices inspired by nature's ecosystems. Strategies like intercropping, crop rotation and agroforestry support pollinators, ensuring food security, biodiversity, and resilience against food shortages.

Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge highlights the importance of harmony between agriculture and nature, offering invaluable lessons for biodiversity preservation. Protecting pollinators fosters key ecosystem services like pest control, soil health, and water regulation.

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As always if you wish to go deeper within the 2 movements in the month of May then please click the links above and don’t forget to come back for Part 2 next week.