Grass cutting - Let It Bee programme

Grass was left to grow in some areas of the district in May. Cutting schedule on sites will commence again in June, with many sites cut by the end of June or beginning of July.

Understanding Let It Bee 

We relax grass cutting when we can to balance the needs of our local environment, wildlife, residents and visitors.

Last year, we took part in 'No Mow May'. This is a campaign to encourage people to not mow their lawns in the month of May, and to mow less during the summer.

We are now calling our 2024 approach 'Let It Bee' to highlight the importance of bees as pollinators and letting grass grow for wildlife. 

All planned grass cuts are being scheduled for the year around this programme, and relaxing grass cutting in this period is not a financial decision.

Locations and timing of the relaxed cutting programme 

Grass was left to grow on some verges and larger patches of our land around the New Forest district in May. 

Some verges and open spaces had a portion of the grass cut and 'framed' around the perimeter, leaving other sections nearby to grow.   

Larger patches of grass had a cut pathway through them for resident access.

We work with Hampshire County Council and have reacted to feedback from last year's relaxed cutting programme to cut grass that may not comply with the safety requirements for visibility at road junctions. 

Key sites for grass growth in the district were chosen and included longer grass in these locations: 

• Hythe, Southampton Road
• Lyndhurst, Goose Green and Pikes Hill 
• Ringwood, Salisbury Road 
• Fawley, Fawley Fields  

Grass cutting to recommence in June

Cutting schedule on sites will commence again in June, with many sites cut by the end of June or beginning of July.  The schedules are influenced by weather conditions. 

Where possible, we will still leave longer growth and wildflowers on larger areas or where flowering plants are enhancing the area and not causing obstructions, sightline or visibility hazards.  Grass cuttings are being left to recycle the nutrients back into the soil and retain moisture for the summer months to come.

We are currently working on a 5-6 week rotation of the district. For example, if your last cut was the end of April, then your next cut will be early July.  At this time, we cannot give exact dates for verge cutting in your area, due to weather and access requirements on the day.

From June, other garden flowers and wildflowers are blooming and act as the main pollen source, means that species in grass verges are less critical. 

Benefits of leaving grass to grow

There are ecological benefits to leaving grass to grow.

Relaxing the cutting programme:

• increases the number of species, nectar sources and habitats for wildlife
• protects spring bulbs growing on verges which provide an early source of colour and nectar in spring
• allows time for bulbs to absorb energy post-flowering for next year's display

We are working closely with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust to follow best practice. We're creating and linking areas that can provide ecological benefits for pollinators and establish wildflower populations that support pollinator life cycles. 

We are committed to tackling the local climate emergency, and continue to look at successful strategies to encourage biodiversity in Hampshire and further afield. We are monitoring the impact on biodiversity on some of our own trial sites to develop best practice. 
 

Ways you can get involved 

You can get involved in helping wildlife at home by:

• reducing grass cutting at the bottom of your hedge can encourage more species to grow naturally  
• picking up wildflower mixes from your local seed retailer for your garden or window boxes 
• create areas of native wildflower 'meadow' planting and read more on the Royal Horticultural Societies (RHS) "Perfect for Pollinators" list

You can also take part in Plantlife's No Mow May movement.