Did you know? No Mow May makes a big difference in Arun
Since the 1930s, the UK has lost around 97% of its flower‑rich meadows, which once provided vital food and shelter for pollinators such as bees and butterflies. Allowing grass and flowers to grow, even for a short time, helps create important habitats where wildlife can recover.
That's why Arun District Council is encouraging residents to take part in No Mow May by letting lawns grow a little longer and wilder to support wildlife.
We currently manage around 6,500 square metres of wildflower meadows across the district. We're also doing our part by leaving sections of our greenspaces unmown and expanding areas of long grass and wildflower meadow each year, as set out in our Climate Action and Sustainability Work Plan. These meadows are hugely beneficial for biodiversity, and our aim is to increase them by around 10% each year.
Residents can help too. You don't need to stop mowing your entire lawn - leaving even a small patch uncut during May allows flowers to bloom and provides nectar for pollinators. Different grass lengths also support a wider variety of species.
No lawn? No problem. Balconies, patios and windowsills can still support nature with pots or window boxes filled with native wildflowers. There are plenty of other simple ways to help wildlife thrive:
- build a bug hotel for insects
- leave a shallow dish of water for birds and other animals
- create small gaps at the bottom of fences to allow hedgehogs and other small mammals to move through gardens
We're already starting to see changes locally. We will be taking a before photo at Caffyns Field in Littlehampton on 1 May which should show early signs of growth - keep an eye out for a follow‑up later this month to see how it transforms.
Residents are also welcome to get involved by sending in a photo of their garden at the start of May and another at the end to jonathan.letendrie@arun.gov.uk+
No Mow May is a simple but powerful way to help wildlife recover. With over 20 million gardens across the UK, even small changes can collectively make a huge impact.
Find out more here:
Top tips for a biodiverse garden | Kew
Ideas on attracting wildlife to your garden; expert advice from the RHS / RHS