Different types of grassed areas

Amenity grass areas

The majority of our residential highway verges and amenity greens are cut by mechanical means on a three-week cycle. By cutting at this frequency, we aim to keep the grass between 5cm and 20cm tall.

We do not collect cut grass on amenity areas.

Following a decision made by former council members, we no longer use herbicide to maintain amenity grass areas. Therefore, vegetation growing around the base of obstacles (for example signs), will be allowed to grow until the end of the summer period, when they will be strimmed.

Photo of a typical urban highway verge.

Bulbs and orchids in grass

We are fortunate to have colonies of orchids and areas across the district where daffodil bulbs have been planted. These areas are not cut until later in the season.

Photos of orchids in grass at Nowton Park.

Playing pitches

We maintain 25 grass football pitches across the district. During the playing season, these pitches are cut fortnightly and marked.

In order to maintain the pitches in a playable state, they require various maintenance interventions throughout the year, including rolling, scarifying and aerating.

Photo of football pitch area at Hardwick Heath.

Cemetery and closed churchyard sites

Lawn grave areas in our cemetery sites are cut at two to three week intervals during the grass growing season.

We are responsible for a number of closed church yards across the district and aim to cut those areas around four times during the grass cutting season.

Photo of lawn grave areas at Bury St Edmunds Cemetery.

Meadow grass areas

Meadow style grass areas are cut once or twice a year subject to ground conditions and seasonal variations.

Photo of meadow grass area at Halesbarne Lane, Haverhill.

Grazed land

In certain areas we have deployed grazing animals to maintain a grass sward.

Photo of sheep grazing in Nowton Park.