Kingsthorpe Village

The Riches of Uncut Grass

We are now in the third year of NO Mow May and the Kingsthorpe Village’s verges and greens are showing signs of a remarkable recovery from years of being cut to within inches of life.

Take a walk along Lower Leys or along the bank of the school hill in May and you will see the tall stems and umbrella shaped clusters of white flowers of the graceful Cow Parsley, one of Monty Don’s favourite plants.

Also growing in profusion is Green Alkanet. Its blue, nectar rich flowers are visited by hoverflies, bees and butterflies. The flowers are also edible and make an attractive garnish for salads or desserts.

 At a lower height you will see the yellow stars of Herb Bennet or Wood Avens, a relative of the popular garden Geum.  The flowers of Wood Avens are important for pollinators, while its leaves are a source of food for caterpillars such as those of the Grizzled Skipper Butterfly.  

Growing alongside Herb Bennet is Herb Robert, an aromatic member of the Geranium family which was used in the past as an antiseptic. The endangered Common Carder, Buff-tailed and White-tailed Bumblebees are just some of the pollinators that visit its delicate pink flowers.

Look closely at ground level and you may also see the loose mat of heart shaped leaves and delicate flowers of Sweet Violet. With its soothing, cooling anti-inflammatory properties, Sweet Violet was traditionally used as a salve for dry or chafed skin, abrasions, insect bites, eczema, varicose veins and haemorrhoids.

I know some people like a bowling green lawn, but I hope we will all also learn to appreciate the riches of uncut grass.