Our ‘No Mow May’ will create space for birds and insects

Hammersmith & Fulham Council is celebrating a ‘No Mow May’ so bees, plants and insects can thrive

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Grass allowed to grow wild in W12

Hammersmith & Fulham Council is celebrating a ‘No Mow May’ and letting grass grow wild in our parks and verges to help create more spaces for bees, plants and insects to thrive.

We’re also encouraging all residents who have a lawn to join us and make space for plants and insects at home.

“In lockdown we’ve seen how important green spaces are for our wellbeing,” said Cllr Wesley Harcourt, H&F Cabinet Member for Environment. “Now we’re showing our commitment to restore nature in H&F and boost biodiversity, starting with our own parks and verges.”

No mowing – win a £50 garden centre certificate

During May, we’ve asked our contractors to refrain from mowing parks, gardens, road verges and open spaces for the month.

This will give common short-grass flowering species - such as daisies and white clover - a chance to flower. This can boost nectar production for bees and pollinators by 10 times.

To get involved, send us pictures of your new wild areas to press.office@lbhf.gov.uk

The best five images will win a £50 gift certificate to the W6 Garden Centre in Ravenscourt Park. Deadline for entries is 31 May and usual rules apply.

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Pictured are residents outside Hammersmith Town Hall as part of a call to recognise our climate emergency

An ecological emergency

Making space for bees and pollinators is a practical step we’re taking to boost biodiversity.

Human activity is having a devastating impact on the brilliant ecosystems of plants and animals that support us, from a loss of habitat to air pollution, overexploitation and a warming climate.

In 2019, we declared a climate and ecological emergency in Hammersmith & Fulham. We recognise that restoring nature and increasing biodiversity is essential to preserve a safe and stable planet for future generations.

To help, we were the first council in the UK to plan glyphosate weedkillers in parks and open spaces to protect our bees and butterflies.

Over the past 10 years, we’ve planted two kilometres of wildlife hedges – enough to line the entire section of the A4 road in H&F.

We’ve also established 26 hectares of wildflower meadows, making space for hedgehogs, bees and birds – approximately 10 per cent of our open spaces dedicated to our local ecology and biodiversity.

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Tiny forest planting in Hammersmith Park which is located behind Television Centre in White City

Our borough is also home to London’s first ever “Tiny Forest” – a densely packed native woodland the size of a tennis court in White City that will help support urban wildlife.

We were the first council in England to sign the Edinburgh Declaration calling for local authorities to be recognised for protecting and enhancing nature.

And soon, we’ll launch our Climate and Ecological Emergency Strategy and action plan to showcase how we’re planning to make more space for nature and help create the greenest borough in the country.

Read more to find out what else we’re doing to tackle the climate and ecological emergency in H&F.

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