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Enjoy some
time outside

Salisbury is fortunate to be home to a number of parks, green spaces and children’s play areas, which provide residents and visitors opportunities for sport, leisure and recreation.

With dog walking paths, sports pitches, parkour, picnic areas and more, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

We take great pride in our parks and open spaces and are dedicated to keeping the City green and in bloom throughout the year.

We manage and maintain three large parks in Salisbury: Churchill Gardens, Queen Elizabeth Gardens & Victoria Park.

Please use the map below to find out more about our parks and play areas, as well as information on their facilities.

Would you like to hire one of our parks and open spaces?

Click here

Parkour

The parkour park at Churchill Gardens is a great opportunity to get outdoors, get active and healthier in a fun and social way and is suitable for all ages and abilities.

A great place to jump, duck obstacles, climb and hang, and practice your acrobatic moves!

Skateparks

You can find a number of skate parks in Salisbury for a range of ability levels. Suitable for scooters, skateboards and BMX. Our skate parks can be found at:

  • Churchill Gardens
  • Bishopdown Open Space
  • Western Way

Sports Pitches and Sports Walls

Salisbury has a series of sports walls and sports pitches with safe, modern, attractive facilities for people to enjoy basketball, football and cricket.

Use the map below to view their locations. Click the blue markers for sports walls and green markers for sports pitches.

Please contact us if you would like to book a sports pitch for either a one-off game, or if you represent a team and you would like to book a pitch for the season.

Get in touch

Grass cutting
FAQs

We often get asked questions about grass cutting and hedge trimming around the City so we thought we would put a handy FAQ’s section together to provide more information on what we do.

Grass cutting FAQs
When do the Council cut the grass?

The Council mow the grass from March to October

How many times per year do the Council cut the grass:

The Council aim to complete five grass cutting rounds across the parish each year. This can fluctuate depending on weather conditions.

How long does it take to complete one round of grass cutting?

It takes between 6 – 8 weeks weeks to complete one round of grass cutting. Weather conditions play a vital role on how quickly a round is completed.

Why was the grass so long during April and May?

Spring into early summer is often when the grass grows the fastest! The wet ground and warm weather make ideal growing conditions. The team still complete the round within 6 – 8 weeks, but the grass tends to grow back quicker at this time of year making it appear that it has not been mown for a while.

How much grass do SCC mow?

Salisbury City Council mow the grass in all the public green spaces and verges across the city parish. However, there are some housing areas where private management companies have responsibility for grounds maintenance.

Why has the large green space on our estate been mown but the housing area has not?

The Council grounds department have two different teams which mow the grass. One team is responsible for housing estates and verges and the other team are responsible for larger green spaces and parks. Both teams use different types of mowers, some of these machines are for shorter grass on larger spaces and some are suitable for smaller areas such as lawns and verges. The teams try their best to work alongside each other in the same areas however, this is not always possible.

Why are areas of grass left uncut?

Salisbury City Council’s Environmental Policy Action Plan states that some grass is to be left long to help nature/biodiversity. The Council is committed to increasing these areas each year where suitable and supported by residents.

Why aren’t the grass cut arisings picked-up/collected?

In most cases Salisbury City Council do not collect the arisings from grass cutting. This is standard practice with most Council’s due to the additional resource that would be required to manage grass areas in this way.

What order does the team cut grass across the parish?

The grounds team start the round in Harnham, move across the parish and end in Lower Bemerton.

This is the order in which the team travel across the parish:

  • Harnham
  • Friary
  • Exeter Street
  • Southampton Road
  • Milford
  • Central carpark
  • St Marks
  • London Road
  • Bishopdown
  • Castle Street
  • Pauls Dene
  • Stratford
  • Stratford – Sub – Castle
  • St Pauls
  • Devizes Road
  • Fugglestone Red
  • Bemerton Heath
  • Churchfields Lower Bemerton

Hedge Cutting
FAQs

Hedge Cutting FAQs
When do the Council trim hedges?

Salisbury City Council carryout hedge trimming from November to February.

How many times per year do the Council cut the hedges?

The Council trims it’s hedges once per year.

How long does it take to complete the hedge trimming round?

It takes the team 4 months to complete the round.

Why don’t the hedges get trimmed in the summertime?

Hedge trimming takes place over the winter to avoid disturbing nesting birds.

Where do the Council trim hedges?

Salisbury City Council trim hedges all across the parish in parks, open spaces, housing estates and on verges. However, there are some housing areas where private management companies have responsibility for grounds maintenance.

Why have the hedges in the park been trimmed but the hedges on my estate have not?

The Council grounds department have two different teams which trim hedges. One team is responsible for housing estates and verges and the other team are responsible for larger green spaces and parks. The teams try their best to work alongside each other in the same areas however, this is not always possible.

Do the Council pick up the arisings from trimmed hedges?

Yes, the council will rake and collect arisings from hedge trimming and remove it from site.

Does the Council use a tractor mounted flail arm to trim hedges?

Most of the hedges which the Council maintain are trimmed using hand machines. However, the Council does use a tractor with a mounted flail arm to trim some hedges on sites which are accessible for larger vehicles.

What order does the team trim hedges across the parish?

The grounds team start the round in Harnham, move across the parish and end in Lower Bemerton.

A hedge is growing over the pavement making it difficult to pass on foot or by bike?

Although our grounds team follow a certain route across the parish, they will prioritise trimming a hedge or shrub which interferes with sightlines and access. The Council encourage people to report these matters to the parks department: Parks@salisburycitycouncil.gov.uk

Accessibility -
steep gradients

There are a couple of areas in our parks that have steep gradients which those with accessibility requirements might like to be aware of. See the table below to view the steep areas in our parks.

Park Area
Pinewood Way Play Area and Folly Nature Reserve There is a steep gradient on the approach to The Folly from Bernards Hill Drive. There is also a steep gradient gong to the park from Westfield Road. The approach from the lower parts of Pinewood Wood is also at a steep incline.
Victoria Park Please be aware of the steep gradient on the approach from the Stratford Road car park to the tennis courts.
There is also a sheer gradient from the Stratford Road car park to the toilets and around the lower parts of the Play Area which may be difficult to negotiate by a manual wheelchair user. The pathways on either side of the Play Area are also set at a sheer gradient.
The approach from Park Lane and the Castle Road car park is also set at a steep gradient.
Bishopdown Sports Field and Pavilion The approach from Barrington Road to the Sports Field is at a steep incline. Also, the approach is steep from Fotherby Crescent which may cause difficulties for manual wheelchair users.

Salisbury River
Park

Salisbury City Council is working with Wiltshire Council and the Environment Agency on the Salisbury River Park project.

Located in central Salisbury and covering land at Ashley Road Open Space, Fisherton Recreation Ground, the Maltings and Central Car Park, the scheme will…

Reduce flood risk to existing homes and businesses
Create wildlife corridors and improve biodiversity by connecting fragmented green spaces
Improve the recreational and amenity value of the area
Enable regeneration of key development sites

For more details on the initiative, click the link below.