If you're in No Mow habit... let it grow, let it grow, let it grow

WITH No Mow May in full swing, one charity is calling on people to keep the mower in the shed even longer to help the UK's struggling butterflies and moths.

- By CHARLOTTE PAGE

No Mow May is the annual campaign from conservation charity Plantlife and encourages people to let their lawns grow long to benefit wildlife.

This year, Butterfly Conservation is calling on people to let the grass grow, even if just a patch, until Mid-August, or even September.

Butterflies and moths need long grass throughout the spring and summer.

Recent research from Butterfly Conservation has shown that allowing patches of grass to grow long can boost butterfly numbers by up to 93 per cent.

A spokesperson for the Butterfly Conservation said: "With more than half of the UK's butterflies now in long-term decline, and gardens making up more than 728,000 hectares in Great Britain (that's the equivalent of over a million football pitches) it's more important than ever that gardeners make space for butterflies.

"Taking the small step of leaving a patch of grass to grow long in each of these gardens could make a huge difference for butterflies and moths.

"Over 3,000 people have already pledged to grow their grass long this summer.