No Mow May has been hailed a success – but it appears councils have no appetite to resume mowing verges and green spaces with any urgency and there are fears the good may be undone.

The aim was that by not mowing through May, roadside habitat would flourish through a month that is vital for pollinators and insects.

Before No Mow May, East Hampshire District Council’s climate change spokesman Councillor Rob Mocatta said: “The idea is to let the grass and flowers grow, providing increased nectar sources for insects.”

But as mid-June approaches, so do concerns that ‘no mow ‘ could be here to stay. And where mowing has resumed it looks as though the cut grass, now up to 18 inches long in places, is being left.

Petersfield Climate Action Network (PeCAN) worked with the district council to identify green spaces that could be left untouched through May.

Hampshire County Council, Petersfield Town Council and parish councils also left areas uncut.

PeCAN’s valuable verges spokesman Melanie Oxley of North Road said: “In 2018 it became clear that birds and bats will struggle to find food following the crash in insect populations, and crops and other beneficial plants could lose their natural pollinators.

“No Mow May, and now June, is great, but where sporadic mowing has begun, like along Rival Moor Road to the district council offices, it appears the cut grass is being left behind.

“Leaving short grass clippings behind doesn’t do much harm, but leaving long cut grass will damage the habitat underneath it.

“PeCAN will be asking the council to invest in a cut and collect mowing method as soon as possible.”