Speed Reading — Cutting the Grass - Level 3 — 100 wpm

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Try the same text at a reading speed of 200 words per minute.


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A charity in the U.K. is urging people not to cut the grass in their garden. When spring arrives, many gardeners mow their lawn. The call to not do this is part of a project called "No Mow May". It is to help flowers grow wild and insects breed. No Mow May is a campaign to promote biodiversity. It is from the charity Plantlife. The charity is also asking people to count the types and number of wild flowers in their garden. Plantlife says leaving the grass uncut creates a habitat that will help "our bees, butterflies, wildlife and us". Bees are an essential part of nature as they pollinate flowers. Cutting the grass means there are fewer flowers for bees to work their natural magic.

A spokesperson for Plantlife said garden lawns have the potential to be "biodiversity hotspots". Last year, the charity found over 250 species of plants on people's lawns. These included wild strawberry and wild garlic. Plantlife wants people to value wild lawns more. It said people would get a nice, colourful surprise if they did not cut their grass. One gardener spoke to the BBC about the joy of wild gardens. He said people care too much about having a neat garden and use too many chemicals. He believes not mowing the lawn lets people "reconnect with the natural world". Plantlife agreed. It said a wild garden "makes you feel like you're somewhere tropical instead of your own garden".

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