No‐mow amenity grassland case study: Phenology of floral abundance and nectar resource

Popular campaigns such as No Mow May seek to encourage early-season forage resource for pollinators in urban green spaces. Land managers need balance ecological benefits with extent of accessible amenity grassland. To pilot the identification a ‘tipping point’ when nectar unmown grassland exceeds that mown, we surveyed floral abundance 30 plots on an site at 11 time points between late April and July. Each species’ per 1 m2 was multiplied by published sugar values obtain overall value plot. The no-mow significantly higher than mown plots. However, week-by-week analysis revealed first significant difference did not occur until mid-late yielded three times In early-mid June, there eightfold divergence followed June early July decline. Common Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) provided greatest value, driving differences again mid-July. No-mow contained twice many (22 vs. 11) open flower broadleaf species compared could consider extending management into beyond maximize pollinators. comply S. jacobaea legislation, plan financial should be allocated projects.