No Mow May... and bee-yond

03 May 2025

North Northamptonshire Council is once again taking part in ‘No Mow May’ this year, while continuing to implement its wider Pollinator Strategy, adopted in August 2022. This strategy forms part of the Council’s commitment to enhancing biodiversity and supporting pollinator populations across parks, open spaces, and road verges.

Rather than applying a blanket “no mowing in May” approach, the council is adopting a more strategic and site-specific mowing programme, which will continue throughout the growing season and into autumn. Selected areas will be carefully managed to improve pollen sources and allow habitats to flourish - while ensuring road safety and continued access for the public in parks and open spaces.

No Mow May is a national campaign led by the Plantlife Charity, which encourages residents and land managers to refrain from mowing during May to give bees, butterflies, and other pollinators access to early-season food sources. North Northamptonshire Council’s approach aligns with these goals but takes a more flexible and long-term view of land management.

As part of the council’s commitment, significant areas of open space will be managed with reduced mowing from April to October, creating natural meadow conditions while still allowing residents to enjoy and use the spaces. Details of specific locations will be shared via the council’s website in the coming weeks.

Highway verges, which are vital habitats for many species, are also included in this approach. To balance biodiversity with safety, verge cutting on rural roads and strategic routes will be limited, with safety-critical sites receiving a cut in May, July, and September to maintain visibility for road users. In most cases, only a 1.2-metre swath will be cut, leaving the rest of the verge undisturbed.

It’s important to note that all highway verges within 30mph zones will continue to be cut as normal throughout May to maintain safety and visual amenity in urban and residential areas.

In support of this work, the council’s new Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) will further strengthen efforts to deliver pollinator-friendly land management. The LNRS will guide the identification, restoration, and protection of vital habitats across North Northamptonshire and ensure actions are coordinated across the wider landscape.