The town of Sackville is joining a growing movement asking people to kick back and do a little less yard work this spring. No Mow May is a campaign originating in the UK, which asks people to stop or reduce mowing their lawns for 4 weeks, in order to provide more food for pollinators such as hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, and beetle species.
Sackville joins a long list of towns embracing No Mow May after the Petitcodiac Watershed Alliance took up the cause in 2021. Here’s Erica Butler speaking with town senior manager of corporate projects Kieran Miller to find out more.
“For No Mow May, residents are encouraged not to mow their lawn, or to leave part of their lawn unmowed,” says Miller. “And the idea behind that is that No Mow May is a movement where you can help pollinating insects, such as butterflies or bees. Until summer hits, wildflowers are in low supply, and our yards can provide a much needed source of food for those pollinators.”
The town itself will also participate, modestly. “For the entire month of May we are not going to mow the grass in front of town hall, and there’s also going to be a couple of other spots around town that we will not be mowing as well,” says Miller. “We’re still working out which areas those are.” Sports fields will be mowed, says Miller.
So if residents notice some town property that looks less manicured than usual this month, it’s likely part of No Mow May. “We’re hoping to have some signage in the areas that will be part of this project, just to help people know why the grass is a little longer,” says Miller. “It’s only going to look on unkept for a few weeks, and those few weeks will really help all the pollinators in town, help all those bees get nice and strong for the summer ahead.”
Miller says the town decided to take on No Mow May after hearing CBC report on similar initiatives in neighbouring cities and towns like Dieppe and Riverview. “[We] thought it was a great idea and wanted to jump on board,” says Miller.
“We’re hoping that residents are excited and looking to participate,” says Miller. “We are encouraging people that are participating to post pictures of their unmowed lawn, and some of the flowers that might pop up, on social media with the hashtag, #NoMowMay.”
