From neat lawns to wild havens: how No Mow May is transforming England’s gardens

Cheshire villagers are letting lawns grow wild to improve diversity and reconnect with nature on their doorstep Ian Waddington was crouched in his garden last summer, inspecting loose paving, when he lifted a slab and spotted something extraordinary: a tiny field mouse nestled in a hollow, feeding four babies – each half the size of his little finger. “It was astonishing. Like life in miniature,” he says. After decades in the construction industry, the 86-year-old has found a new passion in retirement – nature. The discovery of the field mice made him realise his garden could be a thriving habitat for animal and plant life. This year, Waddington joined the No Mow May movement and allowed his garden grow wild through spring. Now in its ninth year, No Mow May – run by the charity Plantlife – encourages people to stop mowing their lawns during the first month of spring to allow their gardens to become more biodiverse. In the Cheshire village of Tattenhall, many others have taken part over the years, connecting with nature through their back gardens. Janet Dutton, 69, let her lawn grow wild while caring for her sick partner. Today, aside from a central mown patch for her gr