No-mow May returns to support pollinators

Tashi Farmilo

The MRC des Collines-de-l’Outaouais is once again calling on residents to put away their lawnmowers this May in a renewed bid to protect the region’s pollinators. Now in its third year, the "Défi des Collines sans tondeuse" encourages residents across six municipalities to delay their first lawn cut of the season, giving critical early-season access to nectar and pollen for wild bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects.

The movement forms part of the regional government’s broader 2025 ecological strategy, aimed at accelerating the transition toward climate resilience and environmental stewardship. “By protecting pollinators, we directly contribute to ecosystem health and food security,” the MRC noted in its announcement, highlighting that roughly one-third of the human diet relies on insect-mediated pollination, with bees carrying much of that burden.

As natural habitats continue to shrink, pollinators face increasing difficulty finding the floral resources necessary for survival. Local officials are hoping that something as simple as letting grass and wildflowers grow a little longer this spring can become a powerful act of conservation.

To lead by example, the municipalities of Cantley, Chelsea, L’Ange-Gardien, La Pêche, Pontiac, and Val-des-Monts will also delay mowing on certain public properties, reinforcing the message that ecological action starts at the community level.

“Un petit geste pour vous, un grand soutien pour eux,” the MRC’s slogan reads — a small act for residents, but a meaningful boost for nature.