No Mow May

In recent times, one of the more interesting ways to encourage people to think about wildlife, and so help protect it, is the No Mow May campaign. In essence, you choose a part of your garden (can be a tiny bit of it, can be all of it) and don't mow it during the month of May, allowing more wildflowers to bloom and attracting more pollinating insects. Here at Burnbank,  I am not sure that the local insects have completely understood the concept of No Mow May. Although, to be fair, neither have the wildflowers.

Or perhaps it's me?

Our chosen area which made the cut to be spared the cut was in the back garden, behind the garage and to one side of the drying green. It measures about 15 x 5 metres and we knew from last year, having found evidence of orchid seed heads, that there might be something interesting in there. The remainder of the back 'lawn' was mowed as normal, so that we don't need to worry about being attacked by large carnivorous beasties when bringing in the washing (I can't think of the exact reason why humans are fixated with short grass, but surely this must be it?).

During April, we would occasionally wander into the proposed NMM area, more in hope than expectation, just in case there were any early signs of bloomers. This is a wildflower reference, not an indication that my nether garments had detached from the washing line. Eventually, May's warm weather worked its magic and we were treated to half a dozen Northern Marsh Orchids, their bright purple flowers rising above the sward like the spires of distant village churches.

Meanwhile, in the mown part of the lawn, we were surprised to find another half a dozen orchids, which I am now duty bound to protect by carefully steering the mower around them.

June is much windier than May, bringing gustier, cooler conditions from the west or north, which is quite good for drying the washing, but the insect pollinators aren't so keen, what with the back garden bearing the brunt of the blasts. Last weekend, I had a potter around the front garden, which does have some traditional established planting, with Bistort and Lupins currently flowering. This is where the insects are, taking advantage of the more sheltered surroundings and gorging on nectar. Here too is a Pied Wagtail, which visits regularly, running along the top of the wall and swooping down onto the ground in the hunt for flies to feed its hungry brood.

A sheltered corner

Gypsy Cuckoo Bee

An Empid fly (possibly Empis stercorea, thanks AF)

Leucozona lucorum (thanks to BR for correcting my mis-ID)

Helophilus pendulus

Common Carder Bumblebee (thanks to JC for confirming my guess)

Eristalis pertinax

Rhingia campestris

Next year, I will have to practice No Moan May 🙄