A SWINDON woman is urging fellow gardeners to leave their weeds alone – in a bid to improve habitats for struggling bees.

Glynis Hales, who presents the Birds and the Bees gardening show on Swindon 105.5 community radio station, has called on parish councils and other gardeners to stop mowing part of their lawns or strimming back nettles.

She says that the longer grass, nettles and wildflowers provide a perfect habitat for struggling birds, butterflies and insects.

The well-known Swindon gardener has launched the Bee-Roadzz campaign, aimed at creating corridors of scrubby wildlife along the sides of paths and roads. It follows a similar bid by residents in Marlborough.

Citing a scheme in Kent Road, where homeowners have been converting their gardens into wildlife havens, she said: “Gardens are an important resource for wildlife. It means you as an individual can do something. It’s up to us with our gardens or window boxes – however small. 

“I think people are getting the message. It’s down to us to do something.

“The bees come out, the sun comes out – but people also come out with their lawnmowers. If they could just leave it for a few weeks.”

Glynis asked people to lay off ridding their gardens of daisies and nettles - at least for a few weeks. 

“This isn’t just about bees,” she said. “What you do for the bees you do for the rest of the planet.”

Glynis’ campaign follows pleas by national charity Plantlife for councils to delay mowing roadside verges and gardeners to leave off cutting their lawns. 

Dr Trevor Dines, the botanical specialist at Plantlife, said: “The chances are that at least some wildflowers will appear if you leave the lawnmower alone.” 

At a meeting of South Swindon Parish Council this month, chairman Chris Watts said they would be looking at the concept for next year’s grass-cutting scheme.

To get a Bee-Roadzz sign for your wildlife-friendly garden and for more about the campaign, visit: www.facebook.com/The-Bee-Roadzz-Swindon-279079815964483/