Elgin Academy has taken part in the 'No Mow May' Campaign which is a rewilding scheme to boost eco-systems, by letting your green spaces grow. The school’s groundsman Kenny MacRae suggested the school take part in PlantLife Scotland's nationwide scheme to help wildlife and pollinators.
#NoMowMay is Plantlife’s campaign encouraging people not to mow during May and to continue to mow less and at different lengths and frequencies throughout the summer. By doing so in early Summer allows various plants to get a firm foothold while also letting other wildlife flourish.
The Groundskeeper of the school identified that 'No Mow May' encompasses the skills of planning and implementing a robust method for lawn maintenance. By avoiding mowing a few specific low-profile areas it encourages wildflowers for bees as it grows.
Plantlife’s Every Flower Counts (EFC) citizen science survey – the largest ever survey of garden lawns – demonstrates a radical shift in attitudes towards lawn management is underway. Last year 78.8% of 2,157 EFC participants did not mow for a month before taking part in the survey, a rise from 33.6% in 2019. This shows a specific willingness and shift in perspective with mowing to directly influence eco-systems.
Plantlife’s ‘No Mow May campaign’ focuses entirely on letting lawns embrace the wildlife that encompasses them. By Elgin Academy participating in such an initiative they are supporting meaningful environmental standards which show how any green space can become a biodiversity hotspot, having seen outstanding results with beautiful wildflower meadows.