A forgotten patch of grass on the grounds of a hospital is about to become a haven for wildlife and native flowers.
Staff at Leverndale Hospital in Glasgow have decided to take part in No Mow May, as the first step in a longer-term initiative to improve greenspace at the hospital.
The strip of grass is barely six feet wide and runs for around 100 yards alongside a wall on the site, and up until now the sum total of the care it has received has been a visit from the lawnmower.
However, during No Mow May, the area will be left untouched, encouraging the growth of native grasses and plants, and providing a safe haven for wildlife.
And once May is out and summer really sets in, it has been decided that, instead of returning with the mower, the area will be seeded with wildflowers and left to let nature take its course.
Fiona Roche, Greenspace Officer at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: “Across NHSGGC, we are committed to making the most of the greenspace we are lucky enough to have, for the benefit of our patients, staff and visitors, but also for the wider community and the environment.
“No Mow May is just one of the many initiatives we take part in in every year, and this small project at Leverndale shows that you don’t need a wildflower meadow or a country estate to get involved. Even the smallest patch of grass, if left undisturbed, can become a little gem for biodiversity.
“We are delighted to be able to play our part in this initiative, and I’d like to thank Operations Co-ordinator Lesley Donnelly and the gardening team at the hospital for their support and hard work. We hope that many other sites across NHSGGC will sign up next year.
“The fact that this little piece of wild greenspace will become a permanent feature, as part of our wider commitment to sustainability across our sites, just adds to the good news.”
For more on NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s commitment to Sustainability and Greenspace, go to: Sustainability – NHSGGC
For more about No Mow May, click here.