Harrow Online have published this article.
Harrow Council has denied ‘abandoning’ its commitment to protecting the local environment after confirming it will not take part in ‘No Mow May’ this year. The local authority said it is ‘keen to promote biodiversity’ but has a ‘comprehensive grass cutting regime’ to ensure areas ‘do not look neglected’.
No Mow May is an annual campaign where residents and councils are encouraged to refrain from mowing their lawns for the whole month in order for wildflowers and other plants to grow, in turn providing a valuable food source and habitat for pollinators like bees and butterflies.
The council confirmed the decision at a recent meeting of the Cabinet (April 10) after it was asked whether it would be taking part by relaxing the mowing rules for verges and parks. Labour’s Cllr Preymana Assad asked why the administration is ‘disregarding the support for relaxed mowing’ from the public consultation and questioned whether, given the potential impact on insects and biodiversity, its commitment to protecting the environment ‘had been abandoned’.