Why people in France are advised not to mow their lawns in May
'No Mow May’ has been gradually gaining in popularity in France in recent years
The initiative encourages people to stop mowing their lawns for a month
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An initiative known as ‘No Mow May’ encourages people to stop mowing their lawns during May in France to help protect biodiversity.
First established in Great Britain, it has been gradually gaining popularity in France in recent years.
No Mow May is an annual campaign that encourages people to put away their lawnmowers in May and let their grass grow freely in order to promote biodiversity.
“No Mow May is Plantlife’s, a wild plant conservation charity’s, annual campaign urging everyone to pack away the lawnmower, let wildflowers grow freely and help nature from your doorstep,” states Plantlife on their website.
In the past 20 to 30 years, there has been a significant decline in insect populations. As Alexandre Barraud of Pollinis (a non-profit organisation that aims at stopping the extinction of bees and pollinators) explains, “we often talk about a 70 to 80% decrease in population over the last 30 years”, reports France Info. He adds that several factors are responsible, including pesticides, human activity, and the loss of habitat and food resources.
Several French municipalities have already adopted or promoted the initiative. The town of Coulaines, in Sarthe, has experimented with no mowing across its territory, maintaining only pathways for residents. In Normandy, Feuguerolles-Bully has also implemented a “month without mowing”, encouraging residents to leave parts of their lawns untouched to observe the return of plants and wildlife.
In Brittany, the town of Baud has joined the movement, while the city of Saintes in Charente-Maritime has also encouraged residents to reduce mowing. In Paris, public gardens such as those at the Jardin des Plantes have also reduced mowing during the spring to allow wildflowers to grow and support insect life.
Leaving at least part of the garden unmown in May is increasingly seen as a simple way to support biodiversity. While traditionally well-kept lawns are often valued for their appearance, they provide limited ecological value compared to longer grass and wildflowers, which offer food and shelter for pollinators such as bees, bumblebees and butterflies.
The approach encourages a shift from highly controlled mowing to more nature-friendly practices that allow ecosystems to function more freely.
There is no national law requiring people to stop mowing their lawns in May. Instead, the movement is based on awareness and local encouragement, with some municipalities and environmental organisations promoting reduced mowing to support wildlife.
