Grounds Maintenance

In most open space areas that CBC maintain (this includes Communal Housing Areas) the Council aims to cut the grass on average every 10-12 working days to keep the grass height generally below 3.5 inches (75mm). On some sites mowing regimes differ, for example, for sports use or to encourage wildlife, and mowing may sometimes be delayed due to adverse weather or unsuitable ground conditions.

Leicestershire County Council carrying out all maintenance to roundabouts and roadside grass verges. If you have any queries please contact 0116 305 0001 or visit the Leicestershie County Council website page.

Other Grounds maintenance

The Council is responsible for grounds maintenance in housing areas and on land of recreational value that it manages. This includes all parks, open spaces, allotments and sports grounds in Loughborough and Charnwood Water, Loughborough Cemetery and Shelthorpe golf course; as well as wildlife sites, closed churchyards and open spaces located across Charnwood.

We carry out maintenance such as shrub pruning, leaf clearance to closed churchyards and shrub beds, tree pruning, litter clearance, dog waste bins, control of weeds in shrub beds and hedge cutting. A planned programme of work takes place throughout the year.

Pruning

An analytical pruning schedule for 2012/13 can be found here:

• Hedge Pruning Schedule (Excel Spreadsheet, 0.1 Mb) and
• Shrub Pruning Schedule (Excel Spreadsheet, 0.1 Mb).

Pruning is subject to weather conditions and work on some of the sites might not take place on the indicated dates.

Please note that no pruning activities are taking place between 1st March and 31st July in accordance with the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA). For more information please click here.

Grass cutting

The annual mowing schedule starts mid March and runs through until the end of November, depending on weather and ground conditions. It consists of 5 different rounds. Please click on the appropriate document to find detailed information:

• CBC "Housing Services" mowing sites in Loughborough, Hathern and Shepshed:
  Loughborough Housing Mowing (Excel Spreadsheet, 0.14 Mb)
• CBC managed Open Spaces in Loughborough, Hathern and Shepshed. This route includes small amenity areas including greens, allotments and play areas:
  Open Spaces in Loughborough, Shepshed, Hathern (Excel Spreadsheet, 0.13 Mb)
• CBC managed Major Open Spaces in Loughborough and Shepshed. This route includes large open space, sports fields, Charnwood Water and large parks:
  Major Open Spaces (Loughborough-Shepshed) (Excel Spreadsheet, 0.1 Mb)
• All types of CBC managed land in villages only (excluding Hathern and Shepshed). This includes Housing Services, CBC open spaces and CBC major open spaces:
  Villages Combined Mowing (Excel Spreadsheet, 0.11 Mb)
• Mobile Crew, manage special sites such as bowling greens, maintenance of flower beds and wildlife sites:
  Mobile Crew (Excel Spreadsheet, 0.1 Mb)

Weed control

The Council will try and keep its open spaces and hard surfaces free from the problem of weeds. This includes car parks, fence lines, garage sites, drying areas on Housing Services land, mowing obstructions and paths.

In order to do this we spray 2 - 3 times per year, depending on the site. Generally spraying takes place in April/May and then again in September time.

This should provide sufficient control to prevent unsightly growth.

If excess, problem and unsightly weeds are present on Green Spaces Sites, Ground Maintenance Staff will attend when reported.

Problems with Moss Control are not part of the routine maintenance and will be done on request if deemed to be necessary. 

Weeds in turf are not dealt with routinely except for on Sports Areas and done on request if deemed necessary e.g. dandelion, daisies.

Flowerbeds are weeded regularly throughout the growing season. If unsightly weeds are present the Ground’s maintenance staff will attend

 Dangerous trees

To report a dangerous tree which is on Charnwood Borough Council, land please call 01509 634 976.  Trees on roadside verges, roundabouts and pavements are usually the responsibility of Leicestershire County Council.  Leicestershire County Council can be contacted on 0116 305 0001.

PLEASE NOTE - The Council will only carry out tree work on trees which are dangerous, or are causing direct damage to property.  For more information see the Council's tree policy  Tree Policy (Word Document, 0.1 Mb).

Before any work is carried out, a check must be made to ensure that the tree concerned does not have a Tree Preservation Order or is not part of a Conservation Area or other Designated Site as these have legal protection.

If you wish to request work to a Council-owned tree you can use one of the forms below:

• On-line Form to Request Work on Council Owned Trees
• Tree Work Request Form (Word Document, 0.1 Mb) for completion and return by post.

Play Areas

The Council currently manages 29 play areas in various locations across the Borough. As well as routine and regular programmes of maintenance and cleaning, the play areas are inspected annually by the National Playing Fields Association to ensure that all equipment is being maintained to ‘best practise’ safety standards. Town and Parish councils within Charnwood own and manage other play areas.

• Charnwood Borough Council Play Areas (PDF Document, 0.1 Mb)
• Housing Services Play Areas (PDF Document, 0.1 Mb)

Graffiti and Vandalism

Please let us know if you come across any graffiti or vandalism on Council managed land, such as to sports pavilions, play areas, fencing, seating, litter bins or floral displays. We will take action as soon as possible to rectify any damage or defacement that is reported to us.

Our office hours are 8.30am – 5.00pm, Monday to Thursday, and from 8.30am – 4.30pm on Friday. Outside these times a voicemail service is provided.