Spring is in the air and the bees are buzzing - while we're all equally buzzing about our precious three Bank Holidays this month.
And with days off usually comes garden parties. But with the prospect of hosting on our lovely lawns on the horizon, many Brits are doubtless firing up the lawnmowers in readiness.
But hang on. Experts across the UK are urging people to reconsider cutting the grass in a campaign which began as 'No Mow May' but has now extended to include June as well - and it's all to do with saving Britain, as reported by YorkshireLive.
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The warning is backed up by none other than national hero naturalist Sir David Attenborough , who has reiterated why No Mow May (and June) is important in the first episode of his latest BBC Earth documentary, Wild Isles, which focuses on the UK.
Sir David is pleading with Brits to 'delay mowing' for the sake of the environment on his latest BBC series, in a call supported by wildlife experts.
It's because insects and wildflowers use lawns to breed, pollinate and otherwise maintain a healthy ecosystem at this time of year, an ecosystem which ultimately supports the whole fod chain and the planet at large.
Simply cutting the grass short can meddle with all that, killing off lots of bugs and insects that are an essential - and increasingly threatened - part of our ecosystem, with figures suggesting that more than half of all insects in the UK were lost between 2004 and 2021.
Sir David Attenborough said on BBC's Wild Isles nature documentary about the UK: "Nowhere here is richer in wildflowers and insect pollinators than our traditional hay meadows. Sadly, in the last 60 years, we've lost 97% of this precious habitat.
"But with nature friendly farming, meadows can be restored to provide a haven for wildlife.
"It's all about the timing. Delaying mowing until mid-July allows birds and insects to complete their breeding and flowers to set their seed."
What is No Mow May?
No Mow May is an annual campaign across the UK which calls on all garden owners and green space managers not to mow their lawns or grass at all during May in a bid to give mother nature a much needed boost.
Plantlife, which supports the campaign, says: "A healthy lawn with some long grass and wildflowers benefits wildlife, tackles pollution and can even lock away carbon below ground – and best of all, to reap these benefits all you have to do is not mow your lawn in May!
"With over 20 million gardens in the UK, even the smallest grassy patches add up to a significant proportion of our land which, if managed properly, can deliver enormous gains for nature, communities and the climate.
"This is why Plantlife is calling for people to get involved with #NoMowMay and let wild plants get a head start on the summer."
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