No Mow May

No they are not the only site we were on Putts Corner site last Autumn it was awful and looked like no mow season  also very untidy to look at plus weeds all over the hardstandings also the opposite at Exebridge site was immaculate and site staff said they were not doing no mow May.

I can understand certain areas of the sites but not around the pitches as a lot of sites have a wildlife area which is a better idea and also see wildflowers growing.

I think you’ve hit the nail on the head, folk have to understand the concept first, the work involved and find those right areas to ‘manage’ accordingly. Even those areas left during May (Spring) need cutting and caring for to maintain the best for wildflowers and wildlife. Meadows need cutting at least once during the season and timing of those cuts is important, I think that some just see the lazy option and they gives the initiative a bad name. When it’s done properly it benefits and most importantly nature, it can look great. Hopefully more will make the effort to do it properly.

I think no mow May is a great idea when it's suitable and applicable!

For some it's a great excuse to be lazy...... The contractors for our parish council tried it last year. What a mess. New contractors now. 

That's not to say there isn't a place for it. But road sides need to have clear vision. Anywhere where the grass is used, such a pitches etc need to be fit for purpose. A set aside piece can be very beneficial and needn't just be May 😉

Just driven south from Harlech to St David’s. The authorities along the way are doing a sterling job along the roads here. All road junctions and areas needing clear visibility have, and were being cut for obvious reasons. Where able the road verges have been left for nature. Unfortunately some councils elsewhere in the UK see such management as primarily a cost cutting exercise and have little understanding of it and a lack of willingness to do it properly. I also think some with a different viewpoint deliberately malign the idea of NMM in an attempt to justify their own agenda. We currently face an ecological crisis which will impact heavily on farming and food production unless we make more space for diversity and natural balance. Finding areas like roadsides, where appropriate, could be a part of the solution but it must be done for the right reasons and done correctly.

I think we need more awareness of the work insects such as bees do to help keep nature ticking over.

Interesting debate last week in parliament. Lots of the right sounds but little action so far. Unfortunately some backward steps recently with regard to the u-turn on neonicotinoid use in the UK.

 https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/cd34c7a4-a78f-454d-8b79-da90c2cddfb9?in=09:30:14

I can't remember where but I am sure someone posted a picture of a campsite pitch (CMC) which showed the ideal combination of neatness around the the pitch but also showed where the grass had been left to grow. It was clearly managed and I can't imagine anyone would object. Here in MK all the major grid roads were built with wide corridors, the original purpose being to enable two way roads to be easily converted to dual carriageway. Interestingly, despite the growth in population that has not transpired so we have wide expanses of grass which can be and are, left un-mowed. There is quite a lot of evidence of wild flowers growing. I don't mind that but my tidy mind likes the first metre from the road mown in the usual way which they do usually do. It would be the same if I was on a campsite.

David

No mow May is virtue signalling at its worst. It is imposed by Gaurdianista urbanites with little real understanding of wildlife seeking to impose their views on other urbanites who swallow it all up. In reality for most organisations it’s a cover for saving money. If it cost more to follow this nonsense I doubt we would see any of it. Bee and insect attracting wildflowers do not suddenly sprout overnight because the grass isn’t cut for a month. Utter nonsense.  

Flatcoat said:- wildflowers do not suddenly sprout overnight because the grass isn’t cut for a month

My own observations would suggest that is not correct. In areas around MK where the verges have not been cut wild flowers do appear pretty quickly. So it would seem that allowing verges to grow uncut even for a short period does seem to produce flowering plants that would otherwise be cut off in their prime?

David

I think the overall objective of "No Mow May" is to implant the idea that tidy is not always good. That it's a good idea to leave some areas uncultivated for insects and flowers etc. Not necessarily in May, but all year round. 

No Mow May is just a slogan - shorthand for the ethos.