Town asks residents to consider ‘No-Mow May’ initiative

(RIVERVIEW, NB) – The Town of Riverview is asking residents to give their lawnmowers a break for the month of May for the sake of local bees and other pollinators, and to help manage stormwater.

“We were approached by the Petitcodiac Watershed Alliance (PWA) to consider the No-Mow May initiative and it makes a lot of sense,” says Gerry Cole, Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Relations for the Town of Riverview. “Residents can opt not to mow their entire lawn or leave a section unmowed. Meanwhile, the Town will not mow grass at Town Hall or other Town facilities as well as select open spaces in the month of May.”

The PWA, a local non-profit environmental science and education organization, and many other groups around the globe are encouraging No-Mow May (or reduced mowing) to help pollinator populations. Plants that bloom in spring can provide an early source of nectar for pollinators, such as bees, hummingbirds and butterflies. Letting lawns and ditches grow in May has been shown to have tremendous benefits to pollinator species, many of which have been in decline.

Research also indicates that a reduced-mowing regime helps with erosion control and soil stabilization during spring run-off (stormwater). According to the PWA, providing a buffer to the Petitcodiac River system through naturalized lawns and ditches in May also helps prevent pollutants and debris from travelling directly into freshwater ecosystems.  

Residents who wish to take part in ‘No-Mow May’ can send a photo of their unmowed lawn to info@townofriverview.ca by June 1 for a chance to win a basket of pollinator-attracting flowers and planting tools.