Local wildlife will thrive along Cambridgeshire’s roads this spring as grass cutting is paused to support animals and plant life.

Cambridgeshire County Council will stop cutting grass on its road verges during May this year to support local biodiversity, with a particular focus on pollinators such as bees. 

‘No Mow May’ is run by Plantlife, an organisation that promotes the maintenance and growth of wildflowers, plants and fungi. According to Plantlife, more than 700 species of wildflowers grow on road verges in the UK. That’s almost 45 per cent of the total wildflower species found across the country.

The Council is committed to improving the environment and tackling climate change, and declared a climate and environment emergency in 2019. It has also set the target for Cambridgeshire to reach net zero emissions by 2045, and for the County Council to reach net zero by 2030.

Cutting the grass less often will help reduce carbon emissions, as well as providing habitats for pollinators, such as bees, to thrive. The Council is also encouraging all local parish councils that cut verges on its behalf to take part in No Mow May.

Road safety is a priority for Cambridgeshire County Council, so in agreement with Plantlife the Council will still cut grass where leaving it could cause danger, such as at junctions or bends.

The County Council worked closely with Plantlife to develop its current grass cutting protocol around highways and verges. These changes protect wildlife corridors, and help support wildflowers, bees and plant species to thrive.

For more information on its current verge maintenance policy, which came into place last year, visit the Council’s website here.

For more information on Plantlife see https://www.plantlife.org.uk/uk or https://www.plantlife.org.uk/uk/discover-wild-plants-nature/no-mow-may