Grass cutting and grounds maintenance

Colchester City Council manages the grounds and landscape maintenance at a broad range of sites across the city, including Castle Park, High Woods Country Park, Old Heath Recreation Ground as well as many other less formal or smaller sites.

We also manage the grounds maintenance for Colchester Borough Homes (CBH) and highway verges on behalf of Essex County Council.

Some specific sites have their own tailored grounds maintenance such as at Castle Park, the various countryside sites, the Cemetery and Crematorium, and sports grounds. At most other sites there is a general standard of grounds maintenance which you can expect to see at sites in your local areas.

All grounds maintenance work is carried out by external contractor Idverde. We do not employ staff who are directly engaged in grounds maintenance activities. 

Idverde
Unit C
Commerce Way
Colchester
CO2 8HH
01206 862687

How often the grass is cut

The Highway verges that we maintain on behalf of Essex County Council are cut six times a year - from April to September.

The council land, which includes park and open spaces are cut eight times a year - from March to October.

The grass cutting takes around a month, ground conditions and weather permitting.

View the grass cutting schedule

Uncut grass 

To be more economic and efficient, the contractor will use large mowing machinery where possible.

This means the larger mower will not be able to access corners or narrow strips on certain sites. In these situations, smaller machines will be working in tandem with the larger equipment.

There may be occasions where the different machines lose their synchronisation and one machine may arrive to cut grass sooner than the other, so there may be a short period of time when some of the grass is uncut.

Fence lines, obstacles on verges and open spaces

There is a team dedicated to strimming obstacles, fence lines on verges and open spaces. They operate from April to the end of October.

Removing litter from grassy areas 

The machine operator is expected to check the site and remove any litter to prevent litter being shredded by the mowing machine.

The operators are there as grass cutters, not as litter cleaners, and grass will only be cleared by grounds maintenance personnel at the time of a grounds maintenance visit.

Litter is also removed from shrub borders during summer and winter maintenance.

Grass cuttings are not collected

Grass cuttings are not collected as part of the mowing operation, only in exceptional areas such as high ornamental areas like Castle Park.

The grass cuttings (known as arisings) on all other sites are limited and do not affect the appearance or growth of the grass.

There is normally a flush of grass growth in June where arisings may be greater than after normal cutting visits. This is a temporary but regular event and the quality of the grass areas will not be affected. Removing the arisings would not be sustainable due to the travel needed to dispose of them, and the need to compost them in an approved site.

‘No Mow May’

‘No Mow May’ applies to areas where we are encouraging wildflower and naturalised sites.

Find more information on our wildflower sites 

Treating weeds in roads and pavements 

This is carried out by Essex County Council rather than Colchester City Council and includes all main and residential roads in the City.

Contact Essex County Council or call 0345 6037631.

Overhanging vegetation from a private garden

Essex County Council have the powers to ensure landowners cut back vegetation to keep roads and pavements clear.

Report to Essex County Council or call 0845 6037631.

Maintaining planted borders 

We have a routine programme for maintenance of planted borders, which in most areas will mean four visits from April to end of October followed by a single winter visit between November to February.

Highway shrub borders are maintained twice a year. 

During the summer months, the weeds will be strimmed down and pruning of sight lines cut back. Shrubs will be pruned harder in the winter months. 

Litter in planted areas

Litter is removed during each maintenance visit, five times per year on amenity areas and four times per year on Highway shrub borders.

Hedge cutting

Most hedges are cut twice a year; starting in November and completed by the end of February.

Damages to property and insurance claims

Our contractors are required to carry full public liability insurance. Despite the safety guards provided on equipment, some maintenance operations have the potential to cause damage and on rare occasions property damage.

Small stones may fly from the grass cutting and strimming machines.

If any damage is caused from grounds maintenance operations, the enquirer should contact the company carrying out the work. We will not progress insurance claims on behalf of a claimant.

Where possible, the operator carrying out the maintenance should be informed of the accident and details of the time and vehicle should be recorded for future claim processing.

General enquiries

For more information on landscape and grounds maintenance email parks@colchester.gov.uk. 

If you would like more information on the public highway, contact the Highways Helpline on 03456037631 or visit their website and complete the online form.