Fury in UK city as council 'bans' grass cutting for whole of May

By Alex Evans, Deputy Audience Editor

Bradford Council has banned mowing in May (Image: Bradford Council)

A UK city has sparked fury from some residents after announcing a ban on grass cutting for the whole of May.

Bradford City Council announced on its Facebook page that it won’t be mowing its lawns and green spaces this month in a bid to give insects the chance to pollinate and prop up the food chain.

Bradford said 37 parks, 118 recreation grounds, 25 cemeteries and 85 other sites will be left unmown in May.

Some other areas will be left uncut for even longer, with two parks left as ‘meadows’ until July so that wildflowers can grow.

The decision sparked fury from some council tax payers who hadn’t heard of No Mow May before.

The authority said: “We are letting the grass grow for No Mow May. This provides food for pollinators and helps lock away carbon underground. No Mow May is a national campaign by conservation charity Plantlife.”

According to Plantlife, the country has lost around 97 per cent of its meadows since the 1930s, meaning food for pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, has gone. 

Insect numbers in turn have died off by 60 percent in the past two decades, says Sir David Attenborough.Food cannot grow without being pollinated, so if they all die off then we can’t grow food any more.

Some residents hit out and asked if they would get a Council Tax refund.

Dave Hurt said: “Must be a reduction in council tax surely for one month less mowing and sugden end tip closure? Not quite! Standard 4.99 percent increase year on year.”

Becky Davey said: “I have heard it all now! So do we get “No Pay May” on our council tax??”

Allison Louise Hewitt said: “If that's the case can you stop them from putting weedkiller down too I had lots of lovely wild flowers growing last year till someone from the council sprayed.”

But a lot of people backed the move and said it was an important step..

Jan Evans-Platt said: “Yay this is fabulous gives our pollinators a chance..loved it last year seeing all the little beasties. Although sadly some areas have been mown this year,maybe by residents.

“I'd leave all the verges and seed with wild flowers beautiful”

Shaun Wheatcraft said “Canal tow path between Saltaire and Hirst Wood looks great. It would look even better if the edges were seeded with native wildflowers.”

Jonathan Wadsworth said: “Good on you guys. Thank you for doing your bit for biodiversity.”

Tammy Gore said: “This isn't the first year and it's a great thing to do it's literally for one month and the impact is huge. They still mow the path ways and all the bees butterflies other insects and birds love it.”