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Thing's are about to get wild!

Published on

Campus set to bloom again as University supports No Mow May.

The University is once again taking part in Plantlife’s annual No Mow May campaign, helping to create richer habitats for pollinators and wildlife across campus.

As part of this year’s Earth Week celebrations, we are highlighting how simple actions can make a meaningful difference for biodiversity and the natural environment. Throughout May, 10 areas of the city centre campus will be left unmown, allowing wildflowers such as daisies, clover and dandelions to flourish. These flowering plants provide an important food source for pollinators including bees, butterflies and other insects, while also creating shelter and habitat for birds and small wildlife.

No Mow May is a simple but effective way to support biodiversity. Allowing grass to grow for longer can make a significant difference to urban nature, helping to create greener, healthier and more resilient spaces. Across campus, these slightly wilder areas also form valuable corridors for pollinators to move between habitats.

The selected areas have been chosen for their existing plant diversity, with species including native orchids, cinquefoil, cat’s ear, yarrow, clover, daisy, cow parsley, plantain and dandelion already present. Left to flower, these spaces will become vibrant mini meadows supporting a wide range of insects and wildlife.

Where to spot No Mow May on campus

South Campus

  • The grassed area outside the Yoko Ono Lennon Centre facing Grove Street
  • The grassed area beside the entrance to the Sydney Jones Library
  • The lawn outside the Sydney Jones Library surrounding the Barbara Hepworth statue

Central Campus

  • The grassed area near the Guild Garden behind the Sydney Jones Library
  • One lawn directly in front of the Materials Innovation Factory (MIF)
  • The lawn opposite Student Services, to the right of Guild Walk

North Campus

  • The grass bank outside the Biosciences Building facing West Derby Street and Grove Street
  • The grassed area outside the IT Services Building
  • The grass surrounding the bike store opposite the Victoria Gallery & Museum
  • The lawn in front of the Sherrington Building

Get involved on campus

Students who would like to support No Mow May at the University can join a sign-making event hosted by the Guild of Students from 1pm to 4pm on Friday 1 May in the Gilmour Room. Book your place now!

Explore nature across the city region

Staff and students can also get involved in the wider City Nature Challenge, with a series of BioBlitzes and nature events taking place across the Liverpool City Region.

BioBlitzes are community-led surveys that aim to identify and record as many species of plants, animals and fungi as possible over a set period of time. Observations are recorded by taking photographs and uploading sightings to the iNaturalist app. These records help Merseyside Biobank maintain valuable data on local wildlife and habitats, supporting planning and conservation decisions across the region.

A range of walks, wildlife surveys and family-friendly activities will be taking place at locations including:

Supporting biodiversity at Liverpool

No Mow May forms part of the University’s wider commitment to protecting and enhancing green spaces on campus for the benefit of students, staff and the wider local community, as set out in our Biodiversity Plan and Sustainability Strategy.

Through practical actions across our estate, we are working to create a greener, healthier and more sustainable campus environment where people and nature can thrive together.

By creating more space for nature to thrive, even small changes in how we manage our campus can make a meaningful contribution to biodiversity recovery and a healthier urban environment.

Find out more

To learn more about sustainability at the University of Liverpool and how to get involved, visit: liverpool.ac.uk/about/sustainability