Plantlife No Mow May project winners 2026

The winners of the competition were announced on Thursday 9th July evening at a meeting in the Barbour. There were 3 categories

• Best for nature

• Best children’s project 

• Best community project

The best for nature was won by Tricia and Barrie Morris, who have been growing a garden for wildlife for 40 years.

The children’s project was won by the Tattenhall Park School and Growing Children Project

And the woodland grove developed by TWIG a few years ago won the best community project. 

Over all the 24 gardens that were included in the project, Andy Jennings-Giles, the local lead for Plantlife, found 160 different species of native wildflowers and grasses in the gardens. This was much greater than the other 2 villages which are taking part in this project, making Tattenhall a  very good place for wildflowers, good for pollinating insects  and butterflies, and good for birds and other wildlife.

Everyone found Andy’s advice and help in developing wildflower patches very helpful. He showed examples of the participating gardens with small patches of lawn left to grow and large gardens with meadows, and everything in between. All of these contribute to the biodiversity in the village. 

The best way to manage the patches is to stop mowing when the wildflowers start to grow in March and not   mow again until all seed has been set, then strim, rake and mow regularly until it all begins again the next March. You can also mow at different lengths /mowing every 4-6 weeks-all of these will allow different wildflowers to thrive.

Anyone can do this, if you want Andy’s advice then join the No Mow May project next year.

You can read more about biodiversity projects in the village on the Mini Meadows project page.