As an official Bee Friendly City, we are constantly reviewing grass management and mowing regimes. Adapting our methods where possible to benefit both nature and people.
No Mow May
No Mow May has been developed by Plantlife to encourage more people and organisations to manage land to support wildlife and greater diversity of plant species.
During May mowing will be much reduced across Newport.
Grass cutting will still take place in some areas throughout May in order to:
- Maintain visibility for road users
- Keep traffic signage and sight lines clear
- Maintain margins and access on footways and cycle routes
- Maintain parks, sports grounds, cemetery sites and access to play and recreational green spaces
Regular mowing schedules across the city will begin again in June. Please be aware that the regular mowing schedules are on a 4-6 week schedule, and so some areas will be cut sooner than others.
Nature Isn't Neat
Nature isn’t Neat is a project that aims to raise awareness about the importance of pollinators, the actions that we can all take to support them, and how these can have a positive impact on other important issues such as reducing the decline in other wildlife and mitigating the impacts of climate change.
The project was initially piloted in Monmouth and has slowly been expanded across the five Greater Gwent Local Authorities.
A key element part of the work of Nature Isn’t Neat has been changing the way Local Authorities manage its grassland on verges, open spaces and parks to create space for nature.
We have been very encouraged by public support for the changes we have made to our grass mowing, and the appearance of many more wild flowers during the spring and summer of 2021
This project is part of a series of programmes to be delivered under the Gwent Green Grid Partnership Project, which is supported by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe Investing in Rural Areas and is funded by the Welsh Government’s Enabling of Natural Resources and Well-being Grant.
Find out more about the Gwent Green Grid.
Cut and collect
With help from the Environmental Growth Fund we have purchased machinery to help us change our grass management.
Working with communities, we have established pilot areas so that we can train our team and trial a new method of managing grass to help to set us up for more successful sustainable working practices in the future.
Pollinator sites
In Newport there are a number of sites that are managed for the benefit of pollinators, from floral displays on roundabouts to large meadows.
Schools and community groups
We work with schools and community volunteer groups to undertake Bee Friendly activities.
St Woolos Primary School
Support bees in your back garden
Watch Lucy's Back Garden Biodiversity Bee Friendly film for tips on how to make your garden come alive with busy bees!