Grounds Maintenance
Grounds Maintenance
A clean, green and safe environment is a top priority for us. We manage and maintain a variety of the District’s parks, recreation grounds, closed churchyards and green open areas.
This can also be carried out in partnership with local Parish Councils and under agency arrangements with Derbyshire County Council.
What areas of the District do you maintain?
We maintain, where they are under our ownership, the following areas:
- children’s playground facilities
- recreation grounds and sports pitches
- flower beds
- shrub and rose gardens
- closed churchyards
- highway verges
- trees on council land.
We also advise Parish Councils, developers and the public on a wide range of environmental matters including landscape schemes for new developments, protection of trees, enhancement of wildlife and design guidance.
How often do you maintain these areas?
Different types of open space require different levels of maintenance, so the frequency varies according to the location.
In areas such as public open spaces, play areas and grass verges you can expect the grass to be cut on average every 17 days between March and October, dependent on weather conditions. On vacant open area sites we will cut the grass once a month from March to October, again dependent on weather conditions and closed churchyards approximately every 3 weeks, season dependant.
We seed, plant bulbs or bedding plants in planted areas as necessary and hoe them on a fortnightly basis from March to October. We also prune roses and shrubs and clear leaves from these planted areas when necessary.
How often do you maintain verges?
Road safety is our main concern and at places where visibility is important we cut accordingly. Verges are cut on average twice every month between March and October.
We are also aware of our responsibilities towards the more natural environment, so we cut in a way that allows animals and wild flowers to enjoy their natural habitat, while still making sure safety is a priority.
Can I get help with my garden?
If you are a Council tenant andare not physically capable of maintaining your own garden and have no family in the area you may be able to get assistance from us.
Each case is determined on its own merits and you should telephone our Contact Centres on 01246 242424to arrange a visit.
Do you prune trees and cut hedges?
We undertake a program of cuttingand pruning trees and hedges on landwe ownto enhance and conserve our urban and rural landscape.
We trim hedges on land we own whichbordersthe highway at least once a year, as well as the hedges of infirm tenants.
Tree maintenance is carried out as necessary to ensure the safety of the publicand that of the natural environment.
Can I prune or fell a tree myself?
If the tree is covered by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO), or is in a conservation area you must contact us before you do any work.
Applications for work on trees in conservation areas usually take up to six weeks of receiving the application. Applications for work on trees covered by a TPO will be dealt within eight weeks of receiving the application.
If you own the tree and it is on your property and you have checked that it is not covered by a TPO, then prior to undertaking any work we would advise that you seek advice from a qualified and insured arboriculturist or tree surgeon, details of whom can be found in Yellow Pages telephone directory or by enquiry via the internet.
Our standards are
- To cut grass every 17days between March and October for public open spaces, play areas, grass verges.
- To cut grass in closed churchyards approximately every 3 weeks between March and October.
- To cut the grass at least once a month for vacant open area sites.
- To cut grass in closed churchyards approximately every 3-4 weeks between March and October
July 2015