Kent County Council's third annual No Mow May campaign achieved remarkable success, with 324 pledges covering 141,841m² of pollinator-friendly grassland across the county.
No Mow May is Plantlife's annual conservation initiative encouraging people to stop mowing lawns during May, allowing wildflowers to bloom and creating essential habitats for pollinators like bees and butterflies.
Kent's Participation
Since 2022, Kent County Council has run surveys to track local participation. This marks the third consecutive year of Kent's Plan Bee involvement in the national campaign.
Three Years of Growth
324
Total Participants 2024
19% increase from 2023
543
Tennis Courts Equivalent
141,841m² of pledged land
90%
Pollinator Motivation
Main reason for participation
80%
Repeat Participants
Previously engaged in campaign
Year-Over-Year Comparison
Canterbury consistently leads in pledges across all three years, while Folkestone and Hythe contributed the largest areas in 2022 and 2024.
76 participants chose "to mow less often throughout the year" - convenience factor
Organizational Impact
Community Involvement
15 organizations participated, nearly doubling from 8 in 2023. Community gardens, churches, and primary schools led participation, contributing 30,185m² of pledged land.
KCC Departments
Various KCC departments preserved approximately 300 hectares of wildflower-rich grassland, including country parks, highways (450km of verges), and 36 estate-owned sites.
Social Media Success
Facebook Engagement
Significant increase in engagement during April and May, with followers actively sharing No Mow May content
Visual Storytelling
Success stories and images from previous KCC sites created compelling visual narratives of campaign benefits
Community Building
Posts fostered sense of community among participants and sparked meaningful conversations about biodiversity
Looking Forward
Enhanced Outreach
Target districts with declining participation through community partnerships and direct council collaboration
Earlier Planning
Launch surveys in April to allow better preparation and increased participation rates
Expanding Impact
Continue building on 80% retention rate while attracting new participants for sustained ecological benefits
The 2024 campaign demonstrates growing commitment to biodiversity across Kent, with improved habitat quality and sustained community engagement supporting long-term pollinator conservation goals.