Sir David Attenborough has asked people to delay a common spring activity as he made a desperate plea to protect birds and insects.
With bank holidays coming thick and fast, many people are keen to have clear up their garden and have it looking immaculate. There's nothing like a BBQ or garden party when the sun shines.
However, experts including Sir David Attenborough, are pleading with people in the UK to delay mowing their lawns until mid-July.
READ MORE: 'Seek help immediately' warning to anyone with a garden
He made the call in his latest BBC series, and has been backed by other wildlife experts, Yorkshire Live reports.
It's because insects and wildflowers use lawns to breed, pollinate and otherwise maintain a healthy ecosystem at this time of year, and shredding the grass down interferes with all that, killing off lots of insects that are an essential, and increasingly threatened ,part of our ecosystem. If those insects die off, we all die off eventually.
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."
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."
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
READ NEXT:
Melanie Sykes quits TV after comment from MasterChef's Gregg Wallace
Richard Madeley asks GMB fans' advice as Judy sleeps in spare room
Dr Michael Mosley shares top foods to improve sleep and weight loss
Matalan fans say 'elegant' £22.50 dress is 'perfect for a wedding'
Coronation Street fans swoon as Ellie Leach shows off new look
