Parks and
Open Spaces

The Council mow the grass from March to October

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Salisbury City Council carryout hedge trimming from November to February.

The Council trims it’s hedges once per year.

It takes the team 4 months to complete the round.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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