By Dr Trevor Dines from Plantlife
Doing the Every Flower Counts survey by Pines Corner
We’ve been genuinely overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and support for . From individuals in their back gardens to schools and communities, and even whole councils taking up the #NoMowMay challenge, we’re seeing folks embrace wilder lawns as never before and that’s making a REAL difference for plants, pollinators, people and planet.
Those taking a walk on the wilder side this May are delighting at the wealth of wildflowers and wildlife that are appearing this Bank Holiday weekend. Dandelions, buttercups, orchids and the insect and bird life they’re attracting seem to be really thrilling nature-lovers - have you seen finches feasting on dandelion seed heads?
Honeybee on dandelion by Trevor Dines Plantlife
Full data will emerge in time but we have had exciting initial reports via social of some real rarities popping up on lawns including adder’s-tongue fern. Orchids are beginning to emerge: at Highgrove Gardens the green-winged orchids are out and we are also seeing early purple orchids, southern and northern marsh orchids, and bee orchids springing up.
Dandelions seem to have had a great May 2021 after . Many of these early flowers are persisting in the cool, wet weather that has benefitted them greatly. To some extent flowers have been ‘in the fridge’ this month and pretty much everything is flowering two or three weeks late.
Common daisy in lawn by Trevor Dines Plantlife
But, the arrival of warm weather is producing a kaboom moment as everything bursts into bloom, just in time for our this weekend. Over the Bank Holiday, count the number of blooms in a square metre of your lawn and we’ll tell you how much nectar they’re producing and how many bees you can feed with your own Personal Nectar Score. You’ll also receive some wildflower ID help for 26 common lawnflowers that will further bring to life those colourful lawns.
Every flower has an enriching story to tell. Did you know Germander speedwell – that twinkling blue beauty gazing upwards from many #NoMowMay lawns was once sewn into travellers’ clothes to wish them safe travels? One vernacular name of the little flower with white ‘bird’s eyes’ is Eye of the child Jesus, notes Richard Mabey.
Mass of bird's foot trefoil in lawn by Trevor Dines
And remember to note which pollinators you see, as bees, butterflies, hoverflies will all be foraging for nectar and pollen. Some people have reported that fewer bees have been spotted so far but we’re expecting much greater activity this weekend. and we’re hoping to hit a century in 2021.
So, I’ll be doing the big flower survey this weekend and seeing how well the daisies, speedwells and buttercups in my own lawn are doing. I only have a few, but every single one is important. Because, when it comes to feeding bees and other pollinators, every flower counts.