No Mow May 2027
All of May 2027
Dates can vary from year to year, so check the organiser’s website for the latest details.
Plantlife's annual May campaign invites households, schools and workplaces to leave some grass uncut and make room for wildflowers and pollinators.
Add this date to my calendarA full year of awareness dates, ready to edit, print or sync.
Get the full 2027 awareness days calendar£49.99 a year. Renews annually.
On this page
Dates and event details
All of May 2027. Held all of May every year.
| Date status | Date calculated from a fixed annual pattern |
|---|---|
| Date-check source | Plantlife |
| Where | UK |
What is the campaign about?
Plantlife asks people to pause mowing and allow wildflowers such as daisies, dandelions and clover to flower. A whole lawn can take part, but a smaller area also counts. The aim is to create useful habitat rather than achieve a particular appearance or compete over who has the longest grass.
That makes the campaign suitable for people with different spaces and responsibilities. A household might leave a corner of its garden, a school could identify a study patch, and a business could agree a change with its grounds contractor. Keep the places people need for access and everyday use clearly defined.
No Mow May is Plantlife’s annual campaign encouraging people to leave some grass uncut during May so wildflowers can grow and provide food for pollinators. It is a practical way for households, schools, workplaces and community groups to make space for nature, starting with a lawn or a small patch of grass.
When is No Mow May?
No Mow May takes place throughout May. The next annual calendar month is 1–31 May 2027. Plantlife’s campaign information checked for this listing describes the 2026 edition; any new 2027 campaign materials will be available through the organiser. May is a starting point for thinking about how green spaces are managed through the rest of the year.
How to take part at home
- Choose your patch. Decide which part of the lawn you can leave to grow and photograph it before you start. A manageable area is easier to observe and explain to others.
- Watch what appears. Keep a simple notebook of flowers and visiting insects. Use Plantlife’s guide to learn about the plants you see, rather than assuming every lawn will produce the same results.
- Explain the change. Tell neighbours or anyone who helps maintain the garden what you are doing. A short sign can turn an apparently forgotten patch into a conversation about wildlife.
- Review the space afterwards. Look at what worked and decide how you want to manage the area beyond May using the organiser’s guidance.
Ideas for schools and workplaces
For a school, begin with the site team and agree the location before inviting pupils to take part. Children could draw a map, identify flowers, make observation cards and compare photographs taken each week. A class display can show how one familiar place changes over a month without anyone needing to buy additional materials.
At work, speak to facilities staff or the grounds contractor before changing a mowing schedule. Mark the agreed area, share a short explanation with colleagues and arrange an optional lunchtime observation walk. Record the practical decisions as well as the photographs: who maintains the patch, which routes remain clear, and when the next review will happen.
Community groups can use the same approach in a shared garden or other space they have permission to manage. Give people a defined job, such as making a sign, taking photographs or helping identify flowers, so participation is possible without gardening equipment.
