Don't Mow, Let it Grow project springs into action across area!

The easy to use website will be home to everything you need to know about the management of public grasslands and improving the fortunes of pollinators such as

bees and butterflies, on approximately 20 sites within the Council area.

The three year pilot project is the biggest of its type in Northern Ireland, and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Landfill Communities Fund, working with Transport NI and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.

Rachel Bain, Biodiversity Officer at Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council met with local school children to explain what makes the project so important. The “Don’t Mow, Let It Grow” message is simple.

Small changes in management of grasslands, give large benefits to biodiversity and ecosystem services. That helps all of us.

Pollinators play a key role in local crop production and provide the service for free!”

Melina Quinn from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Biodiversity Unit added, “Road verges and public grasslands provide a refuge for our native wildflowers and a vital food source for our pollinators. Insects don’t just pollinate crops, about three-quarters of our wild plants also require pollinators; without them our landscape would be a very different and less beautiful place”.

“Don’t Mow” signs will be placed on sites across the Borough and the community is being encouraged to understand more about nature and get involved, perhaps as a

volunteer. The website includes lots of interesting information about the needs of our native pollinators, for example, did you know, dandelions are the main source of early food when bees come out of hibernation in March.