No Mow May campaign allows Irish wildflowers chance to grow

REVERSING declining bee populations in Ireland is the focus of the council’s Pollinator Action Plan, and the No Mow May campaign was aimed to increase natural habitats as wildflowers begin to blossom.

At the recent area committee meeting of Clondalkin, Newcastle, Rathcoole, Saggart and Brittas, Cllr William Carey asked for an outline of the grass cutting policy and if it is consistent in different districts.

“The recent heavy growth on grass verges etc that was left unchecked particularly in the Bawnogue area has been viewed negatively throughout the district,” Cllr Carey said in his question.

South Dublin County Council has a pollinator action plan which sets out a range of actions to be taken by the authority over the next five years.

Two of the actions relate to grass management and they are the long flowering meadows and short flowering meadows.

“The Long Flowering Meadow involves a restructuring of mowing patterns and timings with a one cut per annum grassland management regime,” the council said.

“Currently the Public Realm Section manages approximately 167 hectares as natural meadows (long flowering meadows).

One of the meadows cut in Kilnamanagh last week

“The cutting of the meadows is an important part of their healthy management.”

Mimicking traditional hay meadow management techniques, some of the meadows are cut at the tail end of the flowering season in late summer and early autumn, whereas others are left to “overwinter” which provides nesting and habitats for insects.

Short flowering meadows involves the restructuring of mowing patterns to around five teams a year and are designed to suit public open spaces in residential areas.

“The cutting and collecting programme allows short flowering species to flower and set seed, while also aiming to reduce the overall competition from grass species as the ground is depleted of nitrogen,” the council said.

Short flowering meadows were first trialled in 2022 and due to its success, the initiative has been expanded this year from 8.81 hectares to 18 hectares.

Cllr Carey also asked if there was a No Mow May policy in place, and the council outlined that it is a campaign which has gained traction nationwide.

The No Mow May campaign was adopted by the National Biodiversity Data Centre and An Post, asking everyone to put away their lawnmowers throughout May.

One third of wild bees in Ireland are threatened with extinction and by not mowing, it gives Irish wildflowers such as dandelions, clover and bird’s-foot trefoil a chance to grow – which are considered a great source of pollen and nectar for pollinators such as bees.

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