Landscape Maintenance

Our landscape maintenance team look after 16 km of mature hedgerow and over 725 hectares of parks, woods and open spaces. This includes maintaining sports pitches, pruning, weeding, spraying and strimming and they still find time for planting trees, shrubs and bedding plants. They are also responsible for the up keep of Redditch Crematorium grounds.  There is more information below:

Grass Cutting

Redditch Borough Council carries out a variety of grass cutting operations which are based on a cyclical maintenance programme. The Council’s year commences with Week 1 (first week in April) and listed below are the main grass cutting operations and their cyclical regimes.

Housing Areas

The grass within housing areas is cut on a fourteen day cycle commencing in week 52 (end of March) and ending in week 32.

Boxed Mowing (mainly OAP areas)

This mowing is done on a seven day cycle commencing in week 52 and ending in week 32.

Amenity Areas

Grass within amenity areas is cut on a ten day cycle commencing in week 52 and ending in week 32

Highway Verges

The highway verges are cut on a twenty one day cycle which commences in week 52 and ends in week 32. Any narrow, uneven or sloped verges are cut three times a year between weeks 6 and 32.

Strimming

Some grass areas are unsuitable for general mowing operations and are therefore strimmed twice a year. The first occasion will be between weeks 8 and 11 and the second occasion between weeks 26 and 29.

Herbicide treatment

A small area around obstacles in grass and around the base of street furniture will receive a herbicidal spray between weeks 5 and 10.

The cyclical programme for these operations is adhered to wherever possible however, it is subject to amendment as a result of inappropriate  weather conditions that for example do not allow the work to be carried out safely or may be of detriment to an area i.e. water logging or ‘shaving’ of dry grass areas. The programme may also fluctuate due resource issues or mechanical failures however such changes are avoided where possible and any shortfall in service is addressed accordingly.

Hedge Cutting

Redditch Borough Council carries out a variety of pruning operations which are based on a cyclical maintenance programme and are listed below. The Councils year commences in Week 1 which is the first week in April.

Formal Hedges

The maintenance of these hedges should result in a neat and tidy appearance. They are to be pruned via the method most appropriate to the hedge species and the pruning will be one of the following types – cut one side only, cut one side and top or cut both sides and top. The sides are to be cut to a minimum of 100mm behind a path or road edge . All brambles, self-sets and uncharacteristic growth will be removed at the base. This work will be undertaken between weeks 9 – 15 and 19 – 26.

Summer Pruning

This relates to large shrub beds and mature hedgerows where one side only is cut back to 100mm behind a path or road edge by the appropriate method during the same week numbers as for Formal Hedges.

Mature Hedgerows

Old established hedgerows shall be thinned out when their condition and size dictates. Selective pruning will result in individual stems being removed at the base to achieve a thinner crown and/or less overhang. During this process all major deadwood will be removed as will  litter  and the base of the hedge shall be strimmed. This work will be done during weeks 30 -52.

Shrub Pruning

Shrub pruning will be undertaken during weeks 32 – 47 and shall be done via the method most appropriate to the species to ensure that the overall density and appearance of the shrub bed is retained. The shrubs will be pruned in order to retain their natural form and will include the removal of all deadwood and unwanted material  whilst ensuring that growth does not encroach footpaths, roads, fences, windows etc. All arisings may be chipped and spread in an even manner on the shrub bed prior to which all litter and rubbish shall be removed. Where possible shrub beds will be sprayed with an approved herbicide during weeks 8 -12 and again during weeks 22 - 26.

Tree work

Redditch Borough Council holds responsibility for the management and maintenance of approximately 3 million trees. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions and answers.

• Who do I contact about a general tree related matter?
• Environmental Services will record and respond to your enquiry

What  maintenance work will the Council  undertake?

The Council has a defined list of criteria to assist in making the decisions which, in broad terms means we will:-

• carry out safety inspections and respond accordingly
• maintain the tree stock to ensure it’s longevity
• prioritise and respond to all enquiries

we will not normally:-

• prune trees to improve TV signals or reduce overhang  of a property unless it is part of normal maintenance
• prune trees to reduce leaf, twig or fruit fall
• prune or remove trees to improve light or views

Can I cut back overhanging branches?

Yes – if the tree is not protected and you must dispose of the cuttings.

What if a tree is damaging my property?

If there is the potential for a claim you/we will need to advise our Insurance Section before any work can be done.

Litter Clearance

Redditch Borough Council is required via the Environmental Protection Act (1990) to keep its land, as far as is practicable, free of litter. Litter not only makes our environment untidy and unsightly it also has associated health issues.

Throughout the town areas are categorised in to ‘zones’ according to type and use and, programmed schedules of litter picking are tailored to ensure that minimum standards of cleanliness are achieved for that zone. The targets for the standard of cleanliness are regularly monitored and recorded.

As well as the actual removal of litter the Council aims to achieve its targets by use of publicity/awareness, community involvement -including schools, community groups, organised litter picks and voluntary street wardens and, partnership working with private land owners.

The Council supplies various types of litter bins and dog waste bins throughout the Borough and, also has a programmed schedule for the mechanical sweeping of roads and gutters.

The Council also aims to address the issue of fly-tipping (12000 tonnes were removed last year) and any reported incidents of littering or fly-tipping may be subject to the appropriate enforcement action.

In conjunction with its Partners the Council has some responsibility for responding to additional Cleansing issues. This involves the cleansing of the 93 subways within the town, removal of graffiti and making safe vandalised areas or features such as bus stops, play areas and street name plates.

The role of Cleansing also includes the removal of Hazardous Litter such as broken glass, surgical sharps and bodily fluids all of which are treated as a high priority task.