Grass left to grow to help bees and butterflies

Northcliffe Park's meadow will be left to grow for an even longer period during spring and summer

Grass will be left to grow freely on roadsides and in parks and cemeteries around Bradford as part of a national campaign to boost wildlife.

No Mow May is run by conservation charity Plantlife, and encourages people to avoid cutting the grass during May.

Bradford Council says eighty-five green spaces around the district will be left to grow naturally this month.

According to a recent survey for Plantlife, almost of half of gardeners do not plan to mow their lawn more than once this month.

The charity said around 97% of England's meadows have been lost since the 1930s, meaning food for insects, such as bees and butterflies, had gone.

Bradford Council manages hundreds of green spaces, including 37 parks, 118 recreation grounds and 25 cemeteries.

Sites which will not be trimmed this month include Harold Park in Royds, Memorial Gardens in Keighley, Harden Park Bankings in Bingley and Lister Park in Manningham.

Catherine Smith from Bradford Council said: “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."

Ian Dunn, chief executive of Plantlife, said: "The small act of giving the mower a month off, and then mowing less through the summer, can make a big difference at a time when we face interlinked climate and biodiversity emergencies."

In addition to the month-long pause in mowing, grass at some places - including the meadow at Northcliffe Park and the embankment at Peel Park - will be left uncut for a longer period during spring and summer.

Earlier this year, plans emerged for more wildflower meadows around Shipley, to help increase the populations of bees and butterflies.

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