Latest news with #NoMowMay
Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Climate
- Daily Mirror
Gardeners with patchy lawns should do this 'regularly' to stop it dying
Gardening experts are advising people to complete this task 'regularly' during the summer time to ensure fresh growth, as temperatures are set to rise in the upcoming weeks Gardeners struggling to keep their lawns looking green and luscious have been advised to do one thing in June. With summer fast approaching and the temperatures getting warmer and warmer, many of us will be spending quite some time in our gardens. Therefore, gardening tasks have become more important - and there's something you must do to prevent your lawn from drying out completely. With the month of May coming to an end, as well as the 'No Mow May' initiative, gardeners will have to take care of their gardens, now more than ever, to ensure that their grass is looking healthier and thicker before the summer arrives. The 'No Mow May' campaign, started by Plantlife, encouraged gardeners to refrain from moving their lawns throughout the entire month. The whole purpose was to boost biodiversity by allowing wild flowers and plants to grow and fully bloom, as well as providing food and shelter to other wildlife. As shared by gardening expert Fiona Jenkins from My Job Quote, there are a few tips and tricks that will help gardeners ensure that their outdoor spaces are looking greener than ever before. She explained: 'Regular mowing encourages grass to grow through a process known as the 'stimulation effect'. The principle works much the same as how we are advised to get our hair trimmed regularly to enable it to grow faster!' 'When you mow your lawn consistently to a good height you are removing the top portion of the grass blades, which prompts it to produce new shoots and leaves to compensate, resulting in a denser turf. It also has the additional benefit of removing any weeds which may be stealing sunlight, nutrients, and water from your grass.' By regularly mowing the lawn during the summertime, it can prevent it from drying out. However, it's important to adjust the height and frequency, as the job might do otherwise, and affect the growth and overall health of the lawn. The great thing about gardening is that you don't need a lot of expertise but just some interest to keep your outdoor space as tidy and organised as possible. Just in time for the best season of the year, when temperatures are hotter, and there's an excuse to gather all of your loved ones by hosting a barbecue or a simple get together.
Rhyl Journal
2 days ago
- General
- Rhyl Journal
'No Mow May' initiative could be extended across Wales
The proposal aims to reverse decades of habitat loss by altering the management of road verges and green spaces. Carolyn Thomas, MS, has highlighted the potential environmental benefits of this change, suggesting that the verges could become natural wildlife corridors. She said: "Adopting new approaches to grassland management allows us to give biodiversity a boost while continuing to meet the needs of our communities. "By treating road verges as wildlife corridors, we can combat the nature and climate crisis." The roadside verges across Wales cover an estimated 15,000 hectares – approximately the size of Swansea. With careful management, this area could become one of Wales' most extensive networks of wildflower-rich grasslands. These efforts are deemed crucial, given the estimated decline of more than 90 percent of lowland semi-natural grassland in Wales between the 1930s and 1990s. Denbighshire County Council is a model of this approach, with their project treating verges and urban green spaces as wildflower meadows. The council collects seeds from these sites and grows native plants in their nursery, ensuring that all new planting is locally sourced and ecologically sound. The roadside verges across Wales cover an estimated 15,000 hectares (Image: Supplied) The number of species increased from around 40 to 120 after just four years of management. However, only a few councils in Wales have committed to 'No Mow May' this year. Mark Schofield, road verges and green spaces advisor at Plantlife, said: "There may be reasons some local authorities feel compelled to mow in May, but if we're serious about restoring native wildflowers, we need to move from short-term tidy-ups to long-term transformation. "No Mow May is a great place to start — but leaving some open space unmown for longer can support the lifecycles of a huge diversity of wildlife that depend on less disturbed wildflower-rich grassland." The campaign is also encouraging individuals to reduce mowing in their gardens. Ms Thomas said: "We're encouraging more people across Wales to help and connect with wildlife in their gardens by letting the wildflowers grow and being part of the No Mow Movement, starting in May and continuing through the summer." Around a third of people in Wales still mow their own lawns twice a month during the summer. Plantlife is urging more to join the movement and let nature lead, allowing 'No Mow May' to continue into June.
Belfast Telegraph
3 days ago
- General
- Belfast Telegraph
Popular wildflower meadow on verge of Belfast road cut down due to ‘road safety' concerns
Residents were shocked to find the meadow cut to within a few centimetres last Wednesday, May 21, after looking forward to its annual bloom. Ryan Bradley lives close to the area — a short distance from the Forestside Shopping Centre — and had unofficially 'adopted' the grass verge in 2023 to plant a native wildflower patch to boost biodiversity among pollinators in the area. He had placed a sign on the verge asking for it not to be cut — and for the past couple of years it hadn't been, allowing wildflowers to flourish. A spokesperson for the DfI, however, said that the area in question is part of a 'sightline' and needed to be cut to 'ensure visibility for all road users'. 'The department is responsible for the maintenance of the public road network and annually cuts about 45,000km of grass verges,' they said. 'The area in question, on the Saintfield Road, is part of a sightline and was cut to ensure increased visibility for all road users. 'We are committed to protecting wildlife and promoting biodiversity, and our grass-cutting policy was amended in 2022 to reflect that. However, road safety must always be our priority.' Mr Bradley told the Belfast Telegraph that the reason he selected that particular verge was because it was far enough back from the road to ensure it did not impact motorists. "While I haven't had any official permission to do this, over the past couple of years I didn't think there had been any problems, as wildflowers had been left alone,' he said. 'They were not left to grow to a ridiculous height, and I maintain it myself. I cut it every September or early October, and every fortnight I edge the area to prevent these so-called sightline issues. 'The only motorists who would be affected would be those emerging from the junction from Breda Park, turning right towards Forestside. But there is a cycle path and a large space of pavement before you can even see the flowers, so this just doesn't make sense. 'If that was an issue, why didn't they just take the sign down? It's taller than the flowers ever get to! And the flowers hadn't even begun to bloom yet.' He added that it was even more disappointing that this happened during a well-known conservation campaign called 'No Mow May', which encourages people to refrain from mowing their lawns for the month of May to boost biodiversity and support pollinators. 'I manage grasslands for a living with a local conservation charity and anyone working in this sector would know that you don't cut this early in the year,' he said. 'The first flowers, usually the Cuckoo flower, comes out in April, and different species bloom in succession until September, the last one usually being the Devil's-bit Scabious. 'I was expecting the verge to take about five years to establish, because it takes time to maintain these sorts of meadows. But I only got two. Whoever did this clearly hadn't a clue. 'Even if it was done by accident, an apology would be great. But this won't put me off. I still hope to continue to plant wildflowers and improve the biodiversity of the area by doing so.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Mow your lawn or City of Rockford could fine you this much
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Mowing season is well underway, which means many Rockford residents already have cut their lawns a few times. Officials say most residents stay on top of mowing. Others, however, do not. That is why officials are reminding the public about the city's lawn ordinance, which specifies just how tall Rockfordians are allowed to let their grass grow. 'In the city of Rockford, your lawn can only be 8 inches long,' said Jessie Anderson, senior neighborhood stabilization officer with the city. 'If you have a property with no structure that's over one acre, then it's 10 inches.' Those who aren't in compliance with the ordinance will receive a written notice first, giving them five business days to mow. If they don't reply after that, a city contractor will come out and mow, which can come with a hefty price tag for homeowners. 'We have a $135 admin fee,' Anderson said. 'And then it varies on the size of the lot or length. It can be anywhere from $30 to $100 on top of the admin fee.' There are exceptions to the 8- and 10-inch rules. Those choosing to participate in 'No Mow May,' an initiative to protect pollinators like bees by allowing grass to grow longer during May, are temporarily exempt. 'You just have to have a sign saying you are being a part of [No Mow May],' Anderson said. Residents are also permitted to use their yards to grow prairie grass, wild flowers and other plants that grow taller than 8 and 10 inches as long as they submit a plan to the city. 'As long as there's no weeds in it, it's acceptable,' Anderson said. Beyond aesthetics, the ordinance aims to keep pests such as mice and snakes out of residential areas. Those who are fined by the city have 30 days to pay. If payment isn't received after 30 days, officials will take further steps. 'If you have an active water bill, we'll just put in on your water bill,' Anderson said. 'If it's a vacant lot, we can put a lien on the property.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Traffic Alert: Chestnut Street in Watertown
WATERTOWN, N.Y. (WWTI) – Chestnut Street in the City of Watertown was closed down early this afternoon for sewer work on Wednesday. According to the City of Watertown's Department of Public Works, the street will be closed between Holcomb St. and Sherman St. beginning at 1:30 pm and will be re-opened by the end of the day. Local traffic for businesses will be allowed to travel on the road. All drivers are asked to use caution if traveling through the area or to seek alternate routes for the duration of the projet. A new COVID variant may be driving up cases in some parts of the world, WHO says 'No Mow May' is out, 'Slow Mow Summer' is in North Syracuse neighbors not happy with new trash rollout Drunk driver who killed Auburn teen back in 2016 released from prison by NYS Parole Board Need to save money on car insurance? Here are some options Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
