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Wilder Together: Public More Likely To Let Lawns Grow If Neighbours Do

1 May 2026

A garden with long grass and mown paths with hammocks hanging from trees
  • Plantlife calls on the public to join thousands of communities taking part in the No Mow Movement 
  • One of the simplest actions people can take to help nature #LetItGrow 

Plantlife’s No Mow May returns for 2026 – the annual campaign that encourages us all to manage our gardens for nature in May and beyond, letting wildflowers grow and supporting pollinators and small mammals that depend on them.

This year, new polling reveals that letting lawns grow is not just a personal choice – it’s a social one, with six in ten 25–34-year-olds saying they would be more likely to let their lawn grow if people around them did so too1.  People also understand that small actions matter, with two-thirds (66%) saying they believe their garden can make a real difference for nature.1

Commenting on the poll findings, Nicola Hutchinson, CEO at Plantlife, said: “Your garden is one of the easiest ways to help nature, providing a lifeline for wildlife – yet social pressure keeps lawns short. No Mow May is the moment to act: to come together as communities, let grass and wildflowers grow, and turn that belief into real change.”

Wildest postcodes in the UK

Among the gardeners leading the charge for nature, analysis from 2025 sign-ups2 show:

  • The Tunbridge Wells region (TN postcodes) topped the list of wildest lawns
  • The Brighton region (BN postcodes) followed closely behind
  • A third (32%) of participants were first timers, showing the No Mow Movement’s continued growth
  • A third (29%) said they would limit mowing all summer, not just in May

How to take part in No Mow May

With over 23 million gardens in the UK, even the smallest grassy patches add up to a significant proportion of our land which, if managed properly, can deliver enormous gains for nature, communities, and the climate.

Reducing mowing throughout May – and ideally into the summer – boosts lawn biodiversity. Leaving even a few areas unmown helps wildflowers to flourish, supporting pollinators and small mammals. Short sections can be kept for paths and recreation, while longer areas are left to flower. Keeping two or three different grass lengths throughout and beyond No Mow May maximises flower diversity and nectar production and creates lots of different microhabitats in which a large range of species can live and thrive.

No garden? A balcony, patio or yard can still become a mini haven for plants and pollinators. Community spaces such as churches, schools, parks and roadside verges can all be managed to encourage wildflowers – creating wildlife corridors across urban and rural areas.

Start in May and receive practical tips, guidance and resources by pledging to join the No Mow Movement: www.plantlife.org.uk/nomowmay