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What to expect from your Grounds Maintenance and Cleaning Contractor
Amenity Grass is to be no longer than 75mm. Grass cuttings are to be left on site and allowed to mulch back into the grassed areas. If grass is more than 75mm in length and cuttings are too long they will be cleared and taken away. Grass cuttings will be cleared from paths and roadways.
Rough Grass areas will be no longer than 150mm. Grass cuttings are left on site and allowed to mulch back into the soil.
Shrub Beds are to be generally free of weeds and dead plants; fully stocked without unreasonably large areas of bare soil.
Hedges will be kept to a reasonable height and width. They will not be cut back between January and July as nesting birds could be present and would break wildlife and countryside laws.
The following link to the RSPB website shows the law around this subject. http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/gardening/planting/hedges/the_law.aspx
Norse may carry out trimming during the nesting season if needed but only if operatives are confident no birds are nesting in the hedge.
Weeds on amenity grass which are persistent and excessive will be treated and should die off naturally. Weeds will be cleared away if excessive growth means they will not die off and wither within a reasonable time. There are no weed killers that can be used to stop weeds growing from seed or shoot. Weeds growing in communal areas will be chemically treated and allowed to die off naturally. Weather conditions and the type of weed will determine how long this will take.
Noxious or harmful weeds such as Japanese Knotweed will be removed appropriately.
Self-seeded trees, such as Sycamores, will be treated as weeds and removed.
Replanting and refreshing of bare ground beds will be carried out on a planned cycle to be decided by Residents and Wherry. Norse will carry out the work as part of the contract. The plants used will be funded through an increase in Grounds Maintenance service charges for tenants in the area concerned.
Paths and Alleyways will be kept clear of vegetation and major slip hazards to make them accessible by residents.
Litter - Grassed areas, shrub beds, car parks and other communal Wherry land will be kept free of litter. Communal cigarette bins outside blocks will be emptied at least once every fortnight.
Leaves will be cleared from car parks, rainwater gullies and pathways after major leaf fall has ended or to make the area safer to use.
Ice and Snow – Communal pathways in Sheltered Schemes will be gritted and cleared as required. Wherry will not grit or clear ice or snow from any other areas.
Fly Tipping – hazardous spills and waste in communal areas which will be cleared within 24 hours of being reported; Otherwise within 5 days if deemed not a hazard.
Graffiti if offensive will be cleared within 24 hours of being reported; Otherwise within 5 days if deemed not offensive.
Internal Cleaning of blocks carried out according to the British Institute of Cleaning Science standards. The standards are available to view on the Wherry website, please click here: http://www.circle.org.uk/wherry/in-your-area/estate-inspections/
Visiting schedules in each block can be different. For details please look at the visiting log sheet in each building.
Trees – All the trees on communal areas were inspected in 2011 by Country Grounds Maintenance (CGM), our tree maintenance contractor. They will all be inspected again over the next three years. The number of inspections will increase for Trees with preservation orders or those identified as needing more attention.
Work will not be carried out due to natural, seasonal issues such as: leaf fall, or sap dropping Trees will not be pruned or cut back for the following reasons:
-They are large
-They overhang gardens
-They block/reduce light or TV/satellite reception
-They drop leaves/blossom/fruit
Trees will be maintained as required to remove hazards and reduce risk without compromising the health of trees wherever possible
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