Grounds maintenance
bpha provides a grounds maintenance service to the communal areas that it owns. This is a pro-active service, carried out throughout the year at set times. There are two levels of service provided.
For some newly built properties, a private management company may be responsible for the grounds maintenance of communal areas. You will have been informed if this is the case when you moved into your property.
If you have any further questions regarding grounds maintenance, please get in contact with us.
Level 1
Provided in the majority of our Independent Living schemes
- Grass to be cut and collected on each visit (April to October)
- Shrubs/hedges to be cut back at every visit as required (subject to time of year and nesting birds)
- Litter to be collected every visit
- Trees to be maintained and hanging branches
removed at every visit as required - Leaves to be cleared every visit (November to January)
- Weed control to be sprayed on hard surfaces on every visit
- Pavements to be cleared of moss, overhanging plants etc at every visit
- Ivy to be removed every visit if required
- Edgings to be left neat and tidy on every visit.
Level 2
Provided for all other schemes
- Grass to be cut on each visit (April to October) collected on the first and last cuts
- Shrubs/hedges to be cut back 4 times a year (subject to time of year and nesting birds)
- Litter to be collected every visit
- Trees to be maintained and hanging branches removed at every visit as required
- Leaves to be cleared every visit (November to January)
- Weed control to be sprayed on hard surfaces on every
visit. - Pavements to be cleared of moss, overhanging plants etc at every visit
- Ivy to be removed every visit if required.
Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981, it is illegal to:
- Kill, injure, or take any wild bird
- Take, damage, or destroy the nest of any wild bird whilst it is in use
- Intentionally destroy or take the egg of any wild bird
- Intentionally or recklessly disturb certain wild birds whilst nesting. These birds are listed in Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act.
These are things that can easily happen by accident whilst pruning a hedge. If our contractors are found to be disturbing a bird nesting site, they could end up with an unlimited fine or even six months in prison. Therefore, they will always prune hedges outside the nesting season to avoid this risk.
According to Natural England, Bird Nesting Season covers February to August, although it is not a legally defined period.
So, they are legally allowed to prune at any time, but can only do so if there is no evidence of birds.
