100 signatures reached
To: St.Francis City Council and Mayor Ken Tutaj
No Mow May St. Francis
In 2020, the city residents and the city council of Appleton, had agreed to hold off on mowing in order to help preserve pollinators and help increase wildlife.
Studies then showed that lawns that were not mowed had five times more more bees and three times more bee species richness. Bees actually live in the ground. The queen bee is usually the first bee out and searches for early pollen to bring back to the hive. Pollinators play an important part of our ecosystem and food chain. Currently several bees are on the verge of being non existent. Bumble bees are bees that play an important role in our ecosystem. Rusty Patched Bumble Bee (Bombus affinis), listed as Federally Endangered and State Special Concern, is extremely rare in Wisconsin and is considered both state- and globally-imperiled. This bee relies on diverse and abundant flowering plant species in proximity to suitable overwintering sites for hibernating queens, which include, but are not limited to non-compacted and often sandy soils or woodlands, but does not include wetlands. Suitable active season habitat includes but is not limited to prairies, woodlands, marshes/wetlands, agricultural landscapes, and residential parks and gardens.
Studies then showed that lawns that were not mowed had five times more more bees and three times more bee species richness. Bees actually live in the ground. The queen bee is usually the first bee out and searches for early pollen to bring back to the hive. Pollinators play an important part of our ecosystem and food chain. Currently several bees are on the verge of being non existent. Bumble bees are bees that play an important role in our ecosystem. Rusty Patched Bumble Bee (Bombus affinis), listed as Federally Endangered and State Special Concern, is extremely rare in Wisconsin and is considered both state- and globally-imperiled. This bee relies on diverse and abundant flowering plant species in proximity to suitable overwintering sites for hibernating queens, which include, but are not limited to non-compacted and often sandy soils or woodlands, but does not include wetlands. Suitable active season habitat includes but is not limited to prairies, woodlands, marshes/wetlands, agricultural landscapes, and residential parks and gardens.
Why is this important?
The decline of bees has been well-documented in recent years, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture says that pollinating insects have an $18 billion annual impact on crops.
Temporarily stopping mowing allows for early-blooming plants such as dandelions and white clover to grow to let bees start earlier on their foraging efforts.
The longer grass provides a crucial habitat for many insects and small animals without having to travel far distance through a city
Regular cutting weakens the grass roots while letting the grass grow helps develop a great root system, which improves water retention and drought resiliency. When cut, the longer trimmings will help the soil by returning the nutrients, promoting healthier, thicker grass and reducing the need for fertilizers.
Temporarily stopping mowing allows for early-blooming plants such as dandelions and white clover to grow to let bees start earlier on their foraging efforts.
The longer grass provides a crucial habitat for many insects and small animals without having to travel far distance through a city
Regular cutting weakens the grass roots while letting the grass grow helps develop a great root system, which improves water retention and drought resiliency. When cut, the longer trimmings will help the soil by returning the nutrients, promoting healthier, thicker grass and reducing the need for fertilizers.