Take part in the 'No Mow May' challenge

Letting the flowers bloom on your lawn helps to provide a vital source of nectar for bees and other insects. This is why we’re asking you to take on a special challenge to support Plantlife’s 'No Mow May' project.

We need you to create a 'scaremow' for the garden to make sure your hungry mower stays in the shed for the whole month of May.

Changing your mowing routine and allowing plants to flower can create enough nectar for ten times more bees and other pollinators. You’re also more likely to spot a greater variety of flowers popping up in your garden.

Once you’ve put your ‘scaremow’ up all you have to do is wait to see how many bees, butterflies and other insects come to your garden. What flowers do they like the most?

At the end of the month, you can count the flowers on your lawn to take part in the conservation charity Plantlife’s Every Flower Counts survey. You'll then get your own Personal Nectar Score, which tells you how many bees your garden is helping to support.

This is the fourth of our weekend challenges for members and supporters. This challenge has been designed so that it can be done in your house or garden, so please take part from the comfort of your own home.

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How to create your own 'scaremow'

Making a 'scaremow' for your garden is a fun way of getting your kids involved with 'No Mow May' and spreading the word to your neighbours. You can construct yours with plant pots, old clothes and other things you might have lying around the house. Take a look at this video for inspiration.

Instructions on how to create a 'scaremow'

Visit the Plantlife website to download a guide to building your own 'scaremow' and learn more about 'No Mow May'.

Visit the Plantlife website

Flower power

Every Flower Counts survey 2019

The top three most abundant lawn flowers were daisy, white clover and selfheal
200 species were found flowering on lawns, including rarities such as meadow saxifrage, knotted clover and eyebright.
Over half a million flowers were counted, including 191,200 daisies.
More than half of the people surveyed would normally mow their lawns at least every fortnight.

For this year's results, including the first ever National Nectar Score for lawns, visit Plantlife's Every Flower Counts website.

girl with dandelion flower — Rediscover the beauty of wildflowers in your own garden

What types of flowers will you see?

You might be surprised at how many flowers you can spot if you the let the grass grow. Daisies, dandelions, creeping buttercups, common mouse-ear, cuckooflowers and white clover are to name just a few. There are also lots of plants you can grow in your garden, window box and vegetable patch that will attract pollinators. These include rosemary, lavender, apple blossom, strawberries and tomatoes.

A bumble bee sitting on a flower, Waddesdon Manor, Buckinghamshire — Bumble bees are excellent pollinators of plants and flowers

Why we love bees

Bees are one of our most important pollinators, and we rely on their hard work for much of what we eat. They pollinate the flowers that produce our fruit, nuts and seeds, and help to spread colour through our landscape. Bees are vital in keeping up the health of our ecosystem, so we need to give them the biggest chance possible to thrive.

A black and orange beetle balances on a grass stalk

What insects other than bees pollinate flowers?

The UK has at least 1500 species of insect pollinators, including bumble bees, solitary bees, hoverflies, wasps, flies, beetles, butterflies and moths.

How many different bees are there?

There are around 270 types of bee in Britain. Among them are 24 species of bumble bee, including red tailed, common carder, white tailed, buffed tailed, garden and tree bees. The white-tailed bee likes to live in old rodent holes, while tree bees often set up home in bird boxes.

What else can I do to help pollinators?

Grow more flowers, shrubs and trees that provide pollen and nectar. Leave patches of land to grow wild, avoid disturbing nests and use less pesticides.

Helping nature at home

Build a bee box

Follow these simple steps to build your own nesting box and attract bees to your garden, community space or allotment.

Pallets and pipes stacked up to create bug hotel

Make a home for wildlife

All sorts of animals need homes and most choose to build very different ones. If you're going to build one for an animal you'll have to think about what they need and want from a home and why.

Things to do at home

Get some inspiration for activities to do on your own or with family. You won't be short of things to do this winter.

Ideas for things to do