RHS develops ‘robust lawn’ that works for people, pollinators and pets

Full of clovers and dandelions, with a hard-wearing rye grass, the approach is environmentally friendly and usable Helena Horton Environment reporter Tue 1 Apr 2025 06.00 BST

Is there a perfect formula for a hard-wearing flower lawn that is good for pollinators, dogs and people?

The immaculately mowed green has fallen out of favour in recent years owing to its lack of support for biodiversity. But there have also been complaints about the tall wildflower meadows that grow during “no mow May” and are less usable for humans and pets.

Now celebrity gardener Monty Don has gone into laboratory mode with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), designing a hardy lawn that can be occasionally mown and trampled by dogs for the Chelsea flower show, which will take place from 20-24 May.