Rushcliffe Borough Council (RBC) has again installed a number of ‘No Mow’ areas across the Borough to act as summer pollinator sites and encourage wildlife and habitats to thrive.
It follows on from the success of the scheme over the last three years and complements the national ‘No Mow’ in May campaign.
RBC has identified 38 sites across the Borough that will grow from May to September this year. These cover over three hectares and include a number of areas close to Ruddington, such as 10 sites in Compton Acres and many others in and around West Bridgford.
The Council’s Streetwise team are now not mowing selected areas across Rushcliffe to help create natural corridors to support and enhance local wildlife.
This sustainable management of the open spaces helps to not only mitigate the impact of climate change but supports the Council’s Carbon Clever initiative and its commitment to become carbon neutral by 2030.
The newly managed sites with the ‘No Mow’ areas often have paths cut through them or adjacent cut areas to provide space for people to sit or children to play.
This creates a more varied greenspace, providing a wider range of recreational and social opportunities as well as benefitting more species, and makes a more interesting natural environment.
It’s with the aim of enabling residents to see more grass swaying in the breeze and hear the buzz of insects feeding on wildflowers.
If weeds become an issue at the sites, alternative methods of removal will be considered that won’t affect wildlife habitats.
You can read more about the summer pollinator scheme and watch a short video at the RBC website: www.rushcliffe.gov.uk/news-area/no-mow-summer-pollinator-sites-return-across-rushcliffe-to-see-local-wildlife-thrive-1/.
You can also get involved if you have your own summer pollinator site on land not managed by RBC. For advice on re-wilding lawns, you can visit the Wild About Gardens website at www.wildaboutgardens.org.uk/.