'Let it bee': New Forest lets grass grow to increase habitats

In May and parts of June, grass in the New Forest will not be cut to allow growth and increase plant species, nectar sources for pollinators and habitats for wildlife. 

Named Let it Bee, inspired by Beatles song, the initiative will be put in place on some verges and larger patches of land in the district. 

Cllr Geoffrey Blunden, portfolio holder for environment and sustainability, said: “We’re looking forward to seeing areas in our district flourish with our 'Let It Bee' approach.

“We have listened to feedback from last year and are working closely with Hampshire County Council to make sure grass will be cut where it is important for safety and visibility."  

The plans follow last years initiative, No Mow May, a campaign which aimed to encourage people to mow their lawns in the month of May and mow less during the summer. 

The new 2024 approach is aimed to highlight the importance of bees as pollinators and letting grass grow for wildlife. 

Cllr Blunden added: "We’ll be continuing to review sites that might work for wildflower planting and use information gained from our trial sites at Fawley Fields and Appletree Court to help with this.

“We’d like to encourage residents to consider having their own wild areas in their gardens. You can reduce grass cutting at the bottom of your hedge to encourage more species to grow naturally or pick up wildflower mixes from your local seed retailer for your garden or window boxes.” 

No Mow May is a movement created by wild plant conservation charity, Plantlife, which is run as annual event. 

Several councils throughout the UK have adopted the movement to help increase wild plant species in their constituency with the charity claiming 97 per cent of flower-rich meadows have been lost since the 1930s. 

According to their figures, there are more than 20 million gardens in the UK and therefore it encourages those who own one to avoid mowing to tackle the widespread issue.