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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to think No Mow May is a pointless pile of crap?

115 replies

RuddyNorma · 27/05/2024 17:28

It increases allergies and ticks, causes paths and road signs to be overgrown and difficult to use, and at the end of the month it all gets chopped down anyway. It doesn't re-wild anything, it's just putting off doing outdoor chores. Plus, I'm not seeing any rebate on my council tax, even though our council has done naff all gardening for this last four weeks. AIBU to think that we do need to have some kind of initiative to support green spaces but that simply downing tools for a month isn't it?

OP posts:
Original poster
RuddyNorma · 27/05/2024 17:55

Where is the spare fields and space to do that?

Anywhere in the 93% of the UK that isn't built on would do.

OP posts:
Sillystrumpet · 27/05/2024 17:54

It’s a pile of shite generally used as an excuse by folks who can’t be arsed mowing their lawn.

TheSandHurtsMyFeelings · 27/05/2024 17:53

It should be No Mow May, June, July. One month isn't enough.

Agree about safety issues on road junctions etc, but otherwise it's an important initiative for biodiversity and is hopefully starting to shift the perception of what our green spaces (public and private) should look like.

Our lawn is only strimmed a couple of times a year and it's lush, green and teeming with wildlife.

ALovelyCupOfNameChange · 27/05/2024 17:53

My guess is this isn’t no mow May by your council but just getting caught out by lots of rain and warmth meaning the grass is growing quicker

ALovelyCupOfNameChange · 27/05/2024 17:52

RuddyNorma · 27/05/2024 17:48

We've eliminated most of the wildflower meadows in the UK, which is disastrous to insects. Insects have a really important role in our ecosystem, including for farming. Insects pollinate crops, increase yields, decompose organic material.

Surely a better way to address this would be to plant wildflower meadows that can be meadows all the time? Rather than having paths and roads obscured for a month and then chopping it all down after and killing off the insects anyway .

Where is the spare fields and space to do that?

as another poster says it creates wildlife corridors to link habitats together. Otherwise they are jigsaw pieces without ever linking

ButWhatAboutTheBees · 27/05/2024 17:51

Edges of paths and around road signs need to be cut back but leaving the rest is great for wildlife and looks beautiful

MrsBook · 27/05/2024 17:51

Are you sure that the vegetation that is blocking your local road signs has been left up because of no mow may? Or has the council simply fallen behind on the work?

Around me more grass verges have been left to grow wild but shrubs and trees have still been cut back for road safety.

I love the additional wild flowers being able to bloom and only mow segments of my garden to encourage them.

LifeofBrienne · 27/05/2024 17:48

I’m not convinced by no-mow May in itself as a stand-alone thing but I think it has helped shift perceptions of what’s desirable in gardens and public spaces. Our council has started leaving long grass in some areas of the parks, which I think is the right approach - plenty of space for picnics and kids to play football, and some long grass to help wildlife and look pretty.
As the article linked above says, it would also be good to move away from the idea that anything other than grass in a lawn is a ‘bad weed’. I think opinions are shifting on this too. In the communal gardens round our flats, the grass is mowed regularly but the daisies, clover etc always pop straight back up again. Patches of yarrow become visible in summer drought as they stay greener than the surrounding grass.

Original poster
RuddyNorma · 27/05/2024 17:48

We've eliminated most of the wildflower meadows in the UK, which is disastrous to insects. Insects have a really important role in our ecosystem, including for farming. Insects pollinate crops, increase yields, decompose organic material.

Surely a better way to address this would be to plant wildflower meadows that can be meadows all the time? Rather than having paths and roads obscured for a month and then chopping it all down after and killing off the insects anyway .

OP posts:
ALovelyCupOfNameChange · 27/05/2024 17:47

CousinBette · 27/05/2024 17:45

Indeed. Not much point in No Mow May when there’s nothing left to mow 😢 Plastic grass is an abomination.

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It should have been banned years ago. Flash flooding, leeching plastics into the waterways, loss of habitats. It’s disgraceful stuff.

menopausalmare · 27/05/2024 17:46

It's creates wildlife corridors to enable insects to move easily, spread gene pools, strengthens insect populations and increases the chance of survival of our invaluable pollinators.

CousinBette · 27/05/2024 17:45

Lilacwall · 27/05/2024 17:40

Except you get half the population thinking that plastic grass is perfectly acceptable in their gardens 🤬

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Indeed. Not much point in No Mow May when there’s nothing left to mow 😢 Plastic grass is an abomination.

Summerhillsquare · 27/05/2024 17:45

Well aren't you a peach?! Fuck the bees eh...

cheese? · 27/05/2024 17:45

YABU.

It isn't for re-wilding, it's to help pollinators.

We've eliminated most of the wildflower meadows in the UK, which is disastrous to insects. Insects have a really important role in our ecosystem, including for farming. Insects pollinate crops, increase yields, decompose organic material.

ALovelyCupOfNameChange · 27/05/2024 17:45

It’s more complicated than just not mowing in May, and should be left for longer to complete the insects cycle. It’s better to keep one bit longer for longer than do no mow may and hack it back in June.

it’s a fantastic thing and should be encouraged. Some people did die near me in a serious crash that was blamed on vegetation blocking views. So, cut down the edges of roads, cut a path but leave the rest. It looks lovely, is great for wildlife, which is great for us.

we are the most nature depleted country we must do better. Take a drive in France and look at the front of your car vs a drive in Britain. Your car will have one or two flies on it here, over there splattered.
we must do better

Pinkfluffypencilcase · 27/05/2024 17:43

NuffSaidSam · 27/05/2024 17:32

I really like it. But in my area they still cut pathways/around signs etc, but they leave big patches unmown and it looks lovely.

Yes I’ve seen this and it looks good. Plus still accessible pathways/ signs.

LlynTegid · 27/05/2024 17:43

It should be 'very limited mow' May. Enough to reduce hazards, a part of your lawn sufficient to say 'I'm not away', nothing else.

Spikyplant · 27/05/2024 17:43

I think it looks lovely.

Original poster
RuddyNorma · 27/05/2024 17:42

But they are causing a hazard. Twice yesterday for me, during one journey. First one was approaching a roundabout, where due to the camber and road curve the only way I could see if anyone was approaching was to edge over the line. This is a roundabout on the main road into town, and the only lane that car drivers can use to approach (the other lane is for buses - not that any run on a Sunday ... ) Then later on I only saw a speed limit sign as I drove past it - it was completely obscured when looking head on by a tree/bush of some kind.

I have reported them, but it shouldn't be happening.

OP posts:
newusern99 · 27/05/2024 17:40

I like the look of it but it is terrible for Hayfever sufferers

Lilacwall · 27/05/2024 17:40

parkrun500club · 27/05/2024 17:38

I agree about ticks and blocking signs/roundabouts.

It's fine in peoples' gardens though.

Except you get half the population thinking that plastic grass is perfectly acceptable in their gardens 🤬

AGlinnerOfHope · 27/05/2024 17:39

Our verges are so much richer, in just a couple of years. Massive diversity in comparison with before.

TeenLifeMum · 27/05/2024 17:39

I like it.

Arghgerroffyabastard · 27/05/2024 17:38

It may be mildly inconvenient for you, but it’s massively beneficial to the insects that live in all of that greenery, and thus to all the creatures above them in the food chain.

Also, for those of us who like nature looking like nature, it’s lovely.

parkrun500club · 27/05/2024 17:38

I agree about ticks and blocking signs/roundabouts.

It's fine in peoples' gardens though.

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