Grass, hedges, leaves and weeds

We look after grassy areas, trees and hedges on public land in the borough.

We maintain green spaces around Chesterfield including:

parks, open spaces and playing fields
cemeteries and churchyards
land around council housing - such as housing courts and flats

We also cut grass verges in Chesterfield on behalf of Derbyshire County Council.

Grass cutting

We usually cut grass between April and October each year, but this is dependent on the weather and heavy rain or drought will lead to a reduction in the number of cuts we can make.

Depending on the area the grass may be cut as little as once a year but most parks and open spaces will be cut up to 7 times per year, including land around council housing.

We are working to reduce the amount of mowing that we do. This will benefit the environment overall as it can help create new habitats for wildlife, particularly in our parks and green spaces.

Where we are leaving meadows, we do cut paths through these areas for people to enjoy these spaces.

We do not take part in the national ‘No Mow May’ campaign, as we work on a longer-term approach which aims to improve biodiversity over a number of years. Whilst we plant wildflower mixes on some small areas we are aiming to encourage areas which are not manufactured but native species which will naturally regrow every year and support native pollinators.

Grass verges are cut to improve visibility and make them safe for drivers and pedestrians. We manage verge cutting on behalf of Derbyshire County Council and where applicable urban highways verges will be mown 5 times per year.

Some main roads, such as the A61 and A617 dual carriageways are maintained by Derbyshire County Council. Areas next to the by-pass can only be cut when the road is fully closed.

Leaves and weeds

We maintain pavements and roadsides throughout the year to keep them clear of overgrown weeds and vegetation.

In the autumn we also clear fallen leaves from priority routes, and will clear other areas on request where a build up of leaves is causing a hazard.

Trees and hedges

We look after the hedges and trees that we own, to keep them in a safe condition and make sure they don't damage property or obstruct roads and pavements.

Areas around and under trees will generally not be cut to assist with promoting biodiversity. This also prevents damage to the tree’s bark which helps provide access to water and nutrients and promotes the tree’s long-term health.We generally cut hedges back from October to the end of March, after the bird nesting season has finished. Areas planted with bulbs will not be cut until the bulbs have died back.

Shrubs will be pruned to an agreed size and to stop them from encroaching on footpaths. The Borough’s rights of way are managed by Derbyshire County Council as are many of the cycle ways.

Privately owned land

We are not responsible for cutting grass, hedges or pruning trees on private land, but can provide a quotation for this service on request.

Gardening help for council tenants

If you are a council tenant and have difficulty looking after your own garden, we may be able to help. Find out more about the garden assistance scheme.

Report a problem

Let us know if there is a problem with grass cutting or verges, overgrown weeds, fallen leaves, or an issue with a tree or hedge on public land.

You will need to tell us the address where the issue is or be able to mark it on a map.

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