No Mow May

Photo - Annie Spratt

Did someone once tell you that a dandelion was a weed? And that nettles were weeds too? 

Supposing instead you were taught the Dandelion was  precious and beautiful flower, would you see it differently?  That that golden shiny head was a gift from GAIA, from Mother Nature, to help us to continue to exist?

If we’d all been taught that the Dandelion was an amazing plant, with many health and healing benefits, would you look at it differently?  A herb who’s young bitter green leaves are a digestive aid (our grannies used to say ‘what’s bitter to the taste is sweet to the body’), herbalists use it to help with fluid retention and fat metabolism and it may also help flush unhealthy chemicals from the body.  And a herb which is the first food of the bees.  Bees whom we now know carry a part of the burden of saving our planet.

No Mow May is about preserving our planet.  It’s about not cutting the grass with its wealth of dandelions, nettles, red clover, (to name a few) all rich in nourishment for the insects, bees and baby birds.  It’s their food, their nourishment.  Without these, they (and we) are doomed.  The bees in particular, pollinate so many species of plants and trees; and of course, we know they also make honey, used in the cold and flu season for its health-giving properties. 

Ants, beetles, butterflies and bees all help to pollinate flowers and plants; seeds form when dust, called pollen, is moved from the male part to the female part of a flower. 

We’d like to say that ‘it goes without saying’ that the use of chemical insecticides and herbicides is a disaster in terms of the climate crisis; sadly, we can’t, as some still seem to think the horrible brown burnt verges are better than a few dandelions cowslips or red clover.  These chemicals seep into our water systems and may be inhaled by those passing after the spraying is done and if they kill insects and plants, could they possibly be not so great for us humans too?

So this year, let’s hold off the mowing in May.  Let’s just realise that we’ve been sadly misinformed about what are weeds, what are herbs and what are flowers.  Lets be aware that these all have their role to play in maintaining our earth and thus our own health and well-being.

And let’s be grateful for the abundance of Hawthorn, Wild Garlic, Nettles and Dandelions, with their huge health and environmental benefits this year.  Let’s look at them with fresh eyes and with an open heart and mind.  

Let’s not mow or spray this May, let’s all do ‘no mow May’ together for the good of all.