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
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Grass cut from April to October, with the first and last cuts collected, and all others are cut-and-drop.
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Shrubs and hedges to receive four cuts per year, with hard cutbacks carried out between October and March and light trimming only during April to October, where possible, subject to growing and nesting seasons.
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Litter to be collected every visit
- Trees to receive surveys to establish remedial works and low hanging branches to be removed when required
- Leaves to be cleared every visit (November to January)
- Weed control to be sprayed on hard surfaces 4 times per year (Takes place in the summer months when its less likely of rain)
- Pavements to be cleared of moss, overhanging plants etc at every visit
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Ivy to be treated between April and September, with removal carried out on the next visit after treatment (typically up to four weeks later)
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Edging to be completed between October and March, with additional tidying carried out throughout the year where time permits.
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 receive surveys to establish remedial works and low hanging branches to be removed when required
- Leaves to be cleared every visit (November to January)
- Weed control to be sprayed on hard surfaces 4 times per year (Takes place in the summer months when its less likely of rain)
- Pavements to be cleared of moss, overhanging plants etc at every visit
- Ivy to be treated between April and September, with removal carried out on the next visit after treatment (typically up to four weeks later).
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.
