'We're trying to move away from No Mow May'

Selected areas of parks and green spaces are set to be left to grow wild as part of proposed changes to Bradford Council's mowing policy.

A recent report to the council's regeneration and environment scrutiny committee revealed there would be more of a focus on introducing permanent areas of wild growth, applying to about 1% of the region's green spaces.

This would continue a move by the authority away from No Mow May, a national month-long scheme where large swathes of green spaces grow wild.

The conservation charity Plantlife, which created and runs the No Mow May campaign, said it was "delighted" to see the council making a "long-term commitment to fewer mows across the year".

The report said: "Several sites were allowed to naturalise in 2025, such as areas of Peel Park, Lister Park Grass Maze, Wibsey Park, Northcliffe Park meadows, Shipley Central Park and Silsden Park.

"We want to go one step further to improve biodiversity across the district and introduce more naturalised sites."

These areas would be cut once per year, it added, "increasing the opportunities for habitats to develop".

The No Mow May campaign, which encourages wildflower growth in urban areas, was expanded beyond May in Bradford last year.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, increased signage was used in 2025 to let residents know why the grass was being left uncut.

At a meeting discussing the report, council officer Brian Dobson said: "We're trying to move away from No Mow May.

"If you leave a piece of grass to grow and then cut it down in a month's time it doesn't really do that much for biodiversity."

Labour councillor Alex Mitchell asked why more areas of the district were not being left to grow and highlighted the low percentage.

He was told that land that the council was responsible for maintaining included sports pitches and bowling greens, with 1% equating to 190,000 sq m of green space left to grow wild.

Sarah Shuttleworth, specialist botanical advisor for Plantlife, said: "May is really just the starting point – a gateway to managing gardens and green spaces for nature throughout the summer and beyond.

"We're delighted to see Bradford Council taking the next step by making a long-term commitment to fewer mows across the year, joining councils across the UK in helping nature recover."

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