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Leisure and Culture >> Parks & Open Spaces

Grounds Maintenance

Introduction

Hastings Borough Council manages all Council owned open space within the Borough, which is in turn maintained through our Grounds Maintenance contractor.  Areas include: Parks and Gardens; Recreation Grounds; Open Spaces; Watercouses; Town Centre Displays; Cemetery and Crematorium; Closed Churchyards; Country Park and Local Nature Reserves; Woodland and Seafront.

A range of improvements has been made to the way open space is now managed and sustainability is now a key priority.  We are attempting to focus our budgets towards the needs of the community and ensuring that everyone has access to open space close to their home.

We have already introduced more sustainable working practices and plan to do much more; they include:

  • 80% of all green waste from open spaces is composted and re-used
  • All tree materials are chipped and used as mulch
  • Tree stakes are taken from our own coppiced woodland
  • Huge reductions in the use of harmful chemicals have been achieved through good husbandry and alternative methods
  • Organic fertilisers used wherever possible
  • Reduced vehicle usage in open spaces
  • Use of recycled materials such as rubber crumb derived from old tyres, to prevent turf wear.

Cars giving way at Battle Road roundaboutBattle Road roundabout was landscaped several years ago as a 'gateway to the town' improvement. It is certainly a tremendous improvement and continues to be maintained to keep it that way. Other similar projects are planned every year to make your town a more attractive place.

Pictured above: Battle Road roundabout, junction with the Ridge

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Green flag Standard

Green Flag Award logo

Hastings Borough Council is committed to improving its open spaces to meet Green Flag standards and in keeping with its Clean, Green and Safe priorities.

Alexandra Park successfully attained the Green Flag for 2004/05.

Yellow and red flowerbed in Alexandra Park

Spring bedding in Alexandra Park April 2004

The Green Flag is managed by the Civic Trust and fully supported by the Government and CABE Space, (the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment).

The criteria for the Green Flag award is:

  • A welcoming place
  • Healthy, safe and secure
  • Well maintained and clean
  • Sustainable
  • Conservation and heritage
  • Community involvement
  • Marketing
  • Management

Flower troughs above barrier outside at Breeds PlaceWe aim to provide a combination of facilities to suit everyone in the community and to provide high quality plant displays; which improve the quality of life for residents and make the town attractive for our visitors.

Pictured above: Barrier troughs in Summer - Breeds Place

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Summary of Core Standards within Grounds Maintenance Contract

Outlined below is a summary of the core service standards included within the specification for the grounds maintenance services. The majority of the service is specified on a performance standard rather than a frequency standard, however for the purpose of this report the indicative frequency standards are shown.

If you wish to report any unmaintained grounds maintenance items in the list below, use the link provided. Please include the location of the problem and any additional relevant information.

Grass Cutting

Parks and Gardens: Cut to a height of 25mm and leave arisings (cuttings).  The height of growth must not exceed 50mm during April to September and 75mm during October to March.
Cycle - All Year

General Open Space: Cut to a height of 50mm throughout the growing season and leave arisings.  The height of growth must not exceed 100mm.
Cycle - All Year

Prestige Areas: Cut to a height of 12mm and remove arisings using a cylinder mower with a minimum of 80 cuts per metre, or an approved rotary mower with collection facility, to remove stalks.  The height of growth must not exceed 25mm throughout the year.
Cycle - April to October

Report uncut grass in parks or open spaces
(Please include the location and any additional information regarding the problem)

Wild flower areas

regime 1 Cut once each year in early September to a height of 75mm and leave cuttings.
Cycle - scheduled

regime 2 Cut twice a year, first cut being undertaken during the second two weeks of April and second cut at the end of August to a height between 75mm and leave cuttings.
Cycle - scheduled

regime 3 Cut from mid March to the end of April (generally two cuts in early Spring), to a height of 50mm. Leave areas for Spring/Summer wild flowers until mid July, then top regularly, reducing the height from 100mm gradually to 75mm in August and 50mm in September. All cuttings to be left.
Cycle - scheduled

Report unmaintained flowers in parks or open spaces
(Please include the location and any additional information regarding the problem)

Hedges

Ornamental Hedges: Trim monthly during the course of the growing season as required.
Cycle - scheduled

High amenity Hedges: Trim on 2 separate occasions, once during June and once during September/October.
Cycle - scheduled

Amenity Hedges: Trim once per year in September/October.
Cycle - scheduled

Report unmaintained flowers in parks or open spaces
(Please include the location and any additional information relating to the problem)

Rose Borders

Maintained clean and tidy all year with good flowering potential.
Cycle - all year

Report unmaintained flowers in parks or open spaces
(Please include the location and any additional information relating to the problem)

Shrub Borders

High amenity shrub borders: Maintained clean and tidy, to a high standard.
Cycle - all year

Amenity shrub borders: Trim ground vegetation and remove arisings, to prevent competition with shrubs. Translocation herbicide to be used on perennial and pernicious weeds, mulch can be used to suppress unwanted growth.
Cycle - all year

Report unmaintained flowers in parks or open spaces
(Please include the location and any additional information relating to the problem)

Flower Beds

Maintained to a high standard. Displays in March until April and June until September.
Cycle - planted October/June

Report unmaintained flowers in parks or open spaces
(Please include the location and any additional information relating to the problem)

Football Pitches

Maintained to a good standard and marked clearly. Maintenance is designed to maximise use throughout the season
Cycle - marked weekly September until May

Report an unmaintained fooball pitch
(Please include the location and any additional information relating to the problem)

Litter Clearance

In accordance with Environmental Protection Act codes of practise. Accumulations of litter must be cleared quickly
Cycle - daily clean

Report uncleared litter in parks or open spaces
(Please include the location and any additional information relating to the problem)

Graffiti

Removed within 48 hours. Zero tolerance
Cycle - all year

Report graffiti in parks or open spaces
(Please include the location and any additional information relating to the problem)

Playgrounds

Keep clean and safe, inspected every day. Top priority for actions
Cycle - all year

Report an unclean or unsafe playground
(Please include the playground location and any additional information relating to the problem)

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This page last updated: 04/10/2007

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