Grounds maintenance – grass cutting, shrub beds and hedges
We are responsible for the maintenance of highway verges and council-owned parks and open spaces. This involves grass cutting and cutting back hedges and shrubs. As the highway authority, we have a duty to maintain verges for the safety of all road users.
Grass cutting
Most grass cutting is carried out in cycles during the warmer months. Some areas are mowed more than others depending on agreements in place with town and parish councils. View our grass cutting schedule here.
Highway verges
We have a duty to maintain verges so that highways are accessible and safe for everyone.
As a local authority we are also required to consider biodiversity in our everyday services. Road verges should be managed as important habitats for biodiversity. They provide a vital corridor for wildlife and pollinating insects.
From March 2020, we will be trialing a new verges management policy using a pilot in the Yate area. This involves using a new ‘cut and collect’ mower which picks up cut grass instead of leaving it in situ. By collecting and tipping the grass nearby, we are helping to reduce the soil fertility of verges, which will encourage wildflowers to grow and in turn attract pollinating insects to the area. Cut grass will be carefully tipped in piles to provide shelter for hedgehogs and other wildlife.
Verges cut in this method will not necessarily look very different and it will take several years to establish improved habitat for wildlife. Mowing of the verges in the pilot will gradually be reduced over 10 years. We will be closely monitoring these pilot sites to help us consider future verge management across South Gloucestershire.
The trial forms part of the council’s Green Infrastructure Strategy which will be the subject of a public consultation in summer 2020.
Hedges and shrubs
The majority of maintenance to hedges and cutting back of shrubs is carried out during the winter months.
Other useful links
- For hedges and bushes/trees that are overhanging paths or roads use the following link to spillages and obstruction
- Street Scene services
- for more information about trees and hedges follow the link for trees and hedges
- find out more about invasive weeds such as Ragwort and Japanese Knotweed
Website feedback
This form is for feedback about our website, not questions or comments about our services.
Follow this link to make a compliment or complaint. For anything else you can contact us here.