Council reviews No Mow May scheme after criticism

No Mow May encourages wildflower growth each year

A city council has conceded there is room for improvement in its annual scheme urging landowners to put away their lawnmowers for a month.

Every year, Bradford Council takes part in the national No Mow May campaign which encourages wildflower growth and attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies into urban areas.

But at a recent meeting, councillors warned its “one size fits all” approach was causing problems in areas where children play.

A spokesperson for the council said: “We’ve developed the initiative further this year but we recognise that improvements still need to be made."

Councillor Marcus Dearden said: “Rewilding and No Mow May help biodiversity across the district but a one size fits all approach can cause problems in some areas, such as grass verges or parks used by children for playing."

Councillor Jeanette Sunderland added she had received complaints of plants growing across pavements, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

She added that although she supported the scheme, it had “also led to complaints, particularly when the first cut is made, and the cuttings litter the pavements or where the plants grow across the pavement causing difficulties”.

The council said this year's wet May had led to more growth than usual.

A spokesperson said: “We agree that a one size fits all approach doesn’t work across the district and we are creating a strategic plan in consultation with area committees for locations for No Mow May next year and which involve less clean-up activity, allowing more time focusing on mowing other areas.

“As we have seen this year, the knock-on effect of No Mow May can be substantial depending on how quick the areas grow and then specialist equipment can be needed to tackle the additional growth.”

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