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Plantlife’s No Mow May Movement is back for 2026 – help nature and let your lawn grow this May and beyond!
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A No Mow Movement Case Study
The No Mow Movement isn’t just about gardens, you can create biodiverse havens for wildlife in your local village, town or city. That’s exactly what’s been happening in Bradwell in the Peak District, Derbyshire.
A small village in the Hope Valley, Derbyshire has been creating some wonderful wildflower areas in community spaces, showing how you can transform local green spaces for the benefit of nature.
By letting areas grow naturally and planting native wildflower seeds, the Bradwell Wildflower Group has transformed some of its local green spaces. Melanie from the Bradwell Wildflower Group has shared their story.
Melanie moved to Bradwell in 2019. When the Covid pandemic hit, pausing all mowing in the village, she began to notice the potential of these uncut areas. Wildflowers were being allowed to bloom, especially Cuckooflowers, and wildlife was enjoying the freedom.
Wanting to stop future mowing, she started to recruit like-minded volunteers from around the village to help pick possible No Mow sites.
Fast forward 2 years to 2021, the Bradwell Wildflower Project was born. With support from the local parish and district councils, the Bradwell Wildflower group started work on 6 small areas round the village that could be left unmown to help local biodiversity.
In the first year of letting these areas grow, they saw mixed results. Cuckooflower thrived in some places but strong plants, like docks dominated other areas. From experience, the Bradwell Wildflower group knew that it would take at least 3 years of careful management for all sites to become attractive wildflower areas.
They believed this long term project was well worth it. For the Bradwell Wildflower Group it is very important that they can leave these areas growing and blooming for longer than May. This is all part of the No Mow Movement, letting it grow from spring into summer for the benefit of nature.
“No Mow May is a great starter, but we are trying to get across to people in the village that flowers and grasses need to be left longer, in order to set seed and for the benefit of wildlife and future health of the sites,” added Melanie.
The Bradwell Wildflower Group advocated a No Mow approach because they believed:
They have also been working closely alongside other local environmental groups such as the Swift Group, the Hedgehog Project and Bradwell Community Orchard.
This is the group’s sixth season now and they are very pleased with the results. However it is important to acknowledge that each site varies from month to month, season to season and year to year. For instance, March brings the snowdrops and April the cuckooflowers and celandines. Other areas come to their peak later with Oxeye Daisies.
Late in the summer when grasses and flowers set seed, the group are aware that the areas can look ‘untidy’ to some people. However, they try to emphasise that leaving the mowing to the end of the summer helps plants set seed and protects insects, butterfly eggs and larvae.
Core members Sally, Joanna and Melanie note that their careful and persistent management is already having an impact. They have been conducting monthly surveys and have been lucky enough to have observed a wide variety of insects including Orange Tip Butterfly eggs on the cuckooflowers.
The Wildflower Project’s 6 sites are spaced throughout the village so that everyone can regularly walk past at least one of them on their way to the shops, post office or church.
All the work is done by volunteers, including controlling problem plants, raking up cuttings, and introducing seeds and plants.
To make the No Mow areas obvious the volunteers have roped off their sites and put up signs to communicate what the project is doing. This also helps council staff know where (and where not) to mow. Then,either in July, or in late summer, volunteers remove the posts to allow cutting to start. Raking up and removing the cuttings is key to the management of their wildflower areas.
There are lots of opportunities for the local village to get involved besides volunteering. The group has organised tours of their No Mow areas and has taught children from local schools about the importance of nature and they run special public wildflower walks.
Melanie, Joanna and Sally believe it is essential to have the village on board as much as possible and to make sure they talk to people whenever the opportunity arises. This has been a priority for their project. The Bradwell Wildflower Project has had great support from the local Parish Council as well as from Derbyshire District Mowing Team.
A small Tortoiseshell Butterfly on celandines
Yellow Rattle starts blooming in the village from May
A Dark-edged Bee-fly spotted in one of the No Mow sites
The Wildflower Group always welcome new members, so if you would like to join them you can email Melanie at braddawildflowers@gmail.com
Plantlife’s No Mow Movement is here – let’s let it grow for nature! Pledge to take part today and get a FREE No Mow May guide.
It’s one of the easiest ways to connect with wildlife and the perfect way to start supporting nature in your garden (in May and beyond!).
Our meadows are part of us and our heritage.
National Meadows Day in the UK is an annual celebration on the first Saturday of July, to celebrate these incredible habitats and our connection to them, which goes back to our ancestors.
For centuries people have been caring for our meadows – but they are now more at risk than ever.
This #NationalMeadowsDay, we are calling for everyone to look into the existing meadows near you, in your communities, and share with us the stories you have about them.
Species-rich grasslands have long been overlooked across all areas of policy and nature markets. We’re exploring whether a Species-rich Grassland Code could help to bring in new funding to protect these important habitats.
Despite being some of the most biodiverse habitats in the UK, species-rich grasslands have long been overlooked across all areas of policy, something we’ve termed ‘The Grassland Gap’. This gap is also evident in carbon and nature markets – where frameworks and codes are designed to generate and sell carbon and nature credits for the purpose of habitat creation and restoration.
Other habitats like woodlands and peatlands already have these codes. So, we want to find out if something similar could work for species-rich grasslands.
This project is supported by Legal & General and is being carried out with leading researchers and other project supporters.
We recently co-developed a Grassland Ecosystem Toolkit for farmers to increase their understanding of nature markets and their potential to support grassland restoration.
This work revealed the ‘grassland gap’ in nature markets: no existing private market mechanism fully values species-rich grasslands while supporting farmers economically.
Even public payments via schemes such as the Sustainable Farming Incentive can no longer be relied on. Please do read our joint statement on this here.
Farmers must be enabled to produce food and be stewards of healthy, biodiverse land in an economically viable way. Achieving this means working with farmers, scientists, businesses and nature experts.
Our focus is on restoring and managing species-rich grasslands in a way that works for the people who look after them.
Before we can start building a code, we’re asking if one could exist, what would it look like? So we’re going to be examining the science of grassland carbon sequestration, testing appetite from farmers and corporate buyers, and mapping out what a governing framework could look like. This means we can make an informed decision about whether and how to move forward.
A code is essentially a rulebook for a nature market. It sets out exactly how environmental benefits – like carbon stored in soil, or improvements to biodiversity – should be measured, verified and converted into credits to be sold to businesses looking to support nature and climate mitigation.
These credits can work in 3 ways:
Codes create the trust and transparency that both farmers and buyers need: farmers know what they must do and what they’ll be paid, and businesses know that what they’re buying is real and independently verified.
The project will focus on 4 main areas of work:
Our goal is to find out whether a Species-Rich Grassland Code could unlock new investment for restoring and protecting grasslands across the UK.
If it works, this could help bring more funding to farmers and land managers who care for these special habitats, whilst helping wild plants and wildlife recover.
Over time, we hope this work will help others to recognise grasslands for the biodiverse, carbon sequestering, water-purifying, flood-mitigating, pollinator-supporting, beautiful habitats that they are.
Carl Moxley, from Legal and General said: “We are delighted to be able to support Plantlife in its ambition to analyse and potentially develop a Species-Rich Grassland Code. The carbon market in the UK is strong and continues to develop. Additional codes, in addition to Woodland and Peatland, will help diversify the types of nature restoration and creation that can help contribute to organisation’s net zero ambitions, with the underpin of being reputational strong and high integrity. This could facilitate new funding to restore and protect our UK nature heritage.”
Clare Quigley, Plantlife’s Nature Economy Specialist said: “At Plantlife, we believe that valuing grasslands is valuing farmers. Our aim is to reward the full benefits provided by healthy, species-rich grasslands and create a route that connects farmers directly to private investment. We’re excited to embark on this investigative journey with our partners to find the best way to make that happen.”
Are you a landowner interested in piloting this project with us? Or an organisation looking to strengthen your supply chain or address your emissions? Or an academic or consultant keen to collaborate?
If so, we’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch with Clare Quigley, our Nature Economy Specialist, to learn more. We’re always keen to share knowledge and work across sectors to maximise the benefits for species-rich grasslands.
Species-rich grasslands have long been overlooked across all areas of policy and nature markets. We're exploring whether a Species-rich Grassland Code could help to bring in new funding to protect these important habitats.
A new free toolkit has been created to increase farmers' understanding of nature markets and their potential to support grassland restoration.
We are developing the first grassland-specific toolkit to help farmers restore more species-rich grasslands and access alternative forms of finance.
Want to lead one of our Waxcap Watch group surveys? Find everything you need to get started on your grassland fungi journey, here.
Did you know that 2026 is Plantlife’s 7th year of the grassland fungi citizen science survey Waxcap Watch? With record numbers taking part in 2025, we want to harness this momentum and open the opportunity to new people and places.
If you are a group leader, this online toolkit should give you everything you need to share Waxcap Watch with your group, and support them to get involved.
One of the wonderful things about Waxcap Watch is that people don’t need specialist fungus identification skills to take part and it provides people with a ‘way in’ to grassland fungi which to a beginner can seem very daunting.
We have led what is considered to be the very first translocation of an epiphytic moss in Scotland to help save the species.
This exciting new project will create more possibilities to save Twinflower populations.
There are so many benefits to taking part in the No Mow Movement. From helping wildflowers and grasses to grow freely, providing food for pollinators, habitat for wildlife and helping to tackle the changing climate.
Join hundreds of volunteers making a difference for fungi by taking part in Plantlife’s Waxcap Watch survey.
Every year, hundreds of enthusiastic volunteers take part in Plantlife’s Waxcap Watch—a brilliant citizen science project that helps us discover where these amazing fungi are thriving. Because waxcaps are indicators of rare, species-rich grasslands, each spot you record helps us uncover and protect precious fragments of ancient meadows.
In this online session, you’ll gain the confidence and skills you need to head outdoors and contribute to Waxcap Watch 2026. Whether you’re completely new to fungi or already a fungi fan, this session will guide you through everything you need to know, including:
If you’re curious about grassland fungi or excited to support this year’s Waxcap Watch, join us for this free and welcoming session—everyone’s invited!
This workshop will equip group leaders with the confidence to teach others how to take part in Plantlife’s Waxcap Watch in 2026.
Join us for a fun and interactive train-the-trainer workshop designed especially for group leaders looking to host Waxcap Watch surveys.
Whether you’re leading community groups, volunteer teams, or educational sessions, this workshop provides structured guidance, practical activities, and leadership tools to help you pass on your learning effectively.
This online event will help you sharpen your skills and get ready to lead your team through the exciting world of waxcap fungi. Don’t miss out on this chance to learn, share, and connect with fellow enthusiasts in a relaxed and friendly setting!
By the end of the session, group leaders will be able to:
There are so many benefits to taking part in the No Mow Movement.
From helping wildflowers and grasses to grow freely, providing food for pollinators, habitat for wildlife and helping to tackle the changing climate. Read on to find out how your wilder patch is helping.
The No Mow May campaign started, primarily because of the significant loss of species-rich grassland across the UK in the last century. With more than 23 million gardens in the UK, we saw an opportunity. If lawns and green spaces could be left to grow they could recreate pockets of mini meadows.
We’ve seen wildlife thriving in No Mow areas – from bees feeding on pollen, amphibians sheltering in the longer grass, mammals thriving in the new habitat and stunning wildflowers being allowed to bloom freely.
Also, it’s super easy to take part – sign up, stop mowing, sit back and let it grow!
Did you know a No Mow patch where the wildflowers and grasses have been allowed to grow in May and beyond can help combat climate change? Not to mention, these spaces can provide vital refuge for wildlife during our changing climate.
By mowing less, the number of grass and wildflower species gradually increase over time. This creates a more varied soil structure and more biomass in and above the soil. This helps to lock away more carbon than a plain grass lawn, that might only have a few species in total.
Many studies have also shown that an increase in plant diversity may greatly increase the amount of carbon that can be stored and the rate at which this happens. [1]
In fact, species-rich grasslands are very important carbon sinks. It’s not just peat bogs and woodlands that need protection for their role in tackling climate change.
It’s also important to remember that by simply mowing yes, you are also helping to do your bit for the environment. Now that you’re caring for your garden with nature in mind, you might only need to mow paths or play areas on a regular basis – rather than your whole garden.
This also saves time, so you can sit and admire the gently swaying grass and hear the hum of busy insects instead!
At the end of the summer, you can continue to mow your lawn as normal. However, you might find that the grass grows less vigorously year on year, requiring less time mowing in the long run too.
Leaving longer grass in your garden or green space can also help to cool larger urban areas. Grassy areas left to grow are crucial in an urban environment – not only for our wellbeing, but also for regulating local environmental temperatures.
Urban green spaces can help to cool cities and are also able to influence the surrounding area. This phenomenon is called the urban green space cooling effect [2]
If grasslands within green spaces (lawns, parks, playing fields etc) can also be managed to have more vegetation and a mix of grass lengths, these benefits can be increased.
A study in 2021 showed that increasing plant structural complexity and/or diversity (meadow areas, hedges etc) increases heat mitigation and habitat for invertebrate biodiversity compared with regularly mown lawns management. [3]
So, whilst you sit and relax amid your No Mow area, take a moment to think about the increased resilience your lawn now has when faced with our increasingly dry and hot summers.
The summer of 2025 was extremely hot and dry for most parts of the UK, particularly the east of England. Many lawns turned yellow-brown early in the season and were slow to recover.
However, anyone doing No Mow May into June and July would have found their grass was much healthier and still green at the base. These areas were noticeably cooler too, providing much needed shelter from the sun for many creatures, pets and humans alike!
To help tackle climate change from your garden or green space, pledge to take part in the No Mow Movement.
[1] G.B.De Deyn et al, 2010
[2] F. Aram et al, 2019
[3] X. W. Francoeur et al, 2021
Join the National Plant Monitoring Scheme (NPMS) for this easy-to-follow plant anatomy session.
Want to get more familiar with wildflowers and how to identify some of them?
This popular live webinar, with experienced trainer Sarah, will help by breaking down barriers for learning with an easy-to-follow plant anatomy session. When the terminology of plant parts is fully understood, it opens doors for a whole path of learning about all the different wildflowers we have in the UK.
Find out how to put your new skills to practise by taking part in a citizen science project – the National Plant Monitoring Scheme and hear how your help is needed. about.
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