Extra grass cutting teams have been brought in to help accelerate mowing across Derby as the Council works to bring all areas back on schedule.
Derby City Council's annual grass cutting programme is well underway, with teams from the council working alongside extra contractors that have been brought in, maintaining thousands of acres of Council-owned green spaces between March and October. This includes highway verges, parks, open spaces, playing fields, cemeteries and Derby Homes housing areas.
Additional crews have now been deployed to strengthen capacity and tackle areas where grass has grown more quickly than teams have been able to keep up with. This includes responding to concerns raised by residents about some locations, including cemeteries.
The grass cutting programme is carefully prioritised to make the best use of available resources. Safety remains the first priority, with teams focusing on locations where long grass affects visibility or access, while the city's busiest parks and public spaces are maintained more frequently.
Most grass verges and open spaces are cut up to six times during the growing season, while other areas like parks and sports pitches are more regularly mown because of need and the type of machinery used. Some roadside verges are cut less often because traffic management is needed to carry out the work safely.
Not every grassed area is maintained in the same way. Some locations are managed to encourage biodiversity, with areas of parks set aside for wildflowers, young trees and wildlife habitats. These spaces may be cut less frequently or left uncut for parts of the year to support nature and enhance Derby's green environment.
Councillor Ndukwe Onuoha, Cabinet Member for Streetpride, Parks and Leisure, said:
We know residents expect our parks, verges and cemeteries to be well maintained, and we recognise there have been concerns about grass cutting in some areas. We've brought in additional teams to increase our capacity and help us get back on top of the programme as quickly as possible.
Our crews are working hard across the city, prioritising areas where long grass is affecting safety or access, while continuing our regular programme of maintenance. We'd like to thank residents for their patience while this work continues."
Residents can view the latest mowing schedule and find out more our grass cutting programme on our website.