Kingston, Ont. introduces ‘No Mow May’ to help bee, insect populations – Kingston | 24CA News

There could also be snow on the bottom proper now, however earlier than too lengthy, grass shall be rising once more, and householders shall be mowing once more.

But this spring, the City of Kingston is asking residents to provide a bit of extra time for the grass to develop.

‘No Mow May’ is an non-compulsory initiative encouraging householders to let their lawns get a bit of greener in the course of the month of May to assist bees and different pollinators.

“We’re in the midst of a climate crisis, I am a climate advocate,” says Brandon Tozzo, who introduced forth the movement to council.

“I thought this was a great way for the community to pitch in and help our local climate and help our local pollinators.”

Kingston isn’t the primary place to take up No Mow May.

It began within the United Kingdom, and has unfold from the east coast of Canada into Ontario, sprouting up in communities like Peterborough and Brampton.

The concept has been rising lately as bee populations in Ontario, and world wide, have been quickly declining.

“They have been declining rather dramatically,” says Joyce Hostyn, co-founder of Little Forests Kingston.

“We’ve lost the Rusty Patch Bumblebee. That used to be an extremely common bee in Ontario. They have disappeared, they are no longer here.”

By not mowing your garden in the course of the month of May, it might enable crops and native species to develop and supply a pollinator-friendly habitat.

While you may suppose that dandelions are a great supply of pollination for bees, they’re truly thought-about ‘junk food’ in comparison with another crops folks can put within the floor.

“Fifteen per cent protein in dandelions,” says Hostyn.

“Some of our native shrubs that are blooming at the same time, like pussywillows, have 40 per cent protein.”

This grassroots marketing campaign might get off to a little bit of a gradual begin, however Tozzo believes it would catch on.

“I think in the first year we will probably get a small level of buy-in by people who are really engaged,” says Tozzo.

“I think year upon year it will build.”

So in case you’re trying to assist out native pollinators this spring, you may preserve your lawnmower within the shed, and let the bees do the work as a substitute.

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