Hedges

Our responsibility

We maintain hedges in the following areas:

• Public open space
• Highway verges
• Central reservations
• Parks
• Town Centre Gardens
• Rear access paths

We also maintain grass and hedges within flat blocks, sheltered schemes and hostels.

Hedge trimming schedule

Most hedges are cut twice a year; once in the summer and once in the winter.

Grass and weeds growing along the base of the hedge are cut down on two occasions during the spring / summer. Some hedges are also treated with weed killer.

We do not cut hedges that are privately owned, hedges on properties and estates owned by bodies other than us and hedges that are outside the Stevenage boundary.

Report a problem

You can report a problem with hedge trimming online. Your report will be investigated within two working days and, where necessary, the teams will usually return to site within five working days.

Maintenance and care

All Environmental Operations staff are required to operate all machinery in a safe and appropriate manner.

Litter should be removed at the time of pruning. If this is not done the team will return to site, within five working days, to remove all litter.

We are responsible for maintaining the outside and top of our hedges. If a council hedge forms a boundary to your property you are responsible for maintaining the inside of the hedge.

Hedges adjacent to private property are cut manually with hedge cutters. To comply with health and safety guidelines it is necessary to maintain most hedges at about six feet.

Damage to property

If you consider that you have been injured as a result of our negligence or your property has been damaged by one of our employees acting negligently, or in breach of any statutory duty, you may have the right to make an Insurance claim against the Council.