Grassed Verges, Weeds, Hedges and Shrubs

Hounslow Highways, on behalf of the London Borough of Hounslow (the Authority), is contracted to deliver all aspects of ground maintenance activities on all adopted streets where the borough is the Highway Authority. The ground maintenance delivered continues to meet the legislative requirements of the Highways Act and meets the standards of the Well-managed Highway Infrastructure code of practice by ensuring an appropriate level of utility within landscaped areas, and that landscaped areas comply with current and relevant issues regarding safety, serviceability, sustainability and bio-diversity, and takes measures to avoid the misuse of local urban environment by taking better account of, and providing for needs of the local community.

In partnership with the Authority, Hounslow Highways has created 32 wildflower meadows throughout the borough, which increase biodiversity and support pollinators such as bats, reptiles, hedgehogs, and birds.

Service Provided

The vegetation condition survey of the grass verges, including shrub bed areas, rose beds and hedges, is recorded in our management system Esri, which in turn generates the rolling programme of routine and planned maintenance works across all adopted streets where the borough is the Highway Authority.

Hounslow Highways has also planted wildflower biomes, which have not only brought some colour to the street scene but also provided local insects and bees with new areas to thrive in.

If you would like to visit one of these wildflower locations, you can find all of them in the PDF at the bottom of this page.

Grass Cutting

Hounslow Highways carries out a regular maintenance programme of grassed areas which are located on the public highway.

Hounslow Highways ensures:
• That the width of adopted streets will not be reduced by vegetation
• From April to October each year, we will aim to carry out 12 grass cuts in each adopted street, depending on the growth rate and weather
• Grassed areas will be kept free from litter, debris, and weeds will be effectively treated
• For areas of over-run, including rutting and uneven ground, will provide programmed reinstatement proposals to the appropriate herbage standard for approval by the Authority
• The grass verges are free from litter and debris before cutting
• Will not remove cut grass; however, will clear arisings by blowing back onto the verges
• All grounds maintenance services will be self-delivered, and
• Will only attend to designated adopted streets where the borough is the Highway Authority.

Exclusions

• • Will not cut grassed verges, which are located in or on private property, and
  • Will not cut grassed verges in parks, public open space, schools, or other Authority-owned land such as Hounslow Housing areas. In these instances, please contact the Customer Services team at the London Borough of Hounslow on 0208 583 2000.

If you have any enquiries regarding the cutting of grass verges, please submit an enquiry online here.

Shrub Beds

Hounslow Highways will carry out a regular maintenance programme of shrub areas which are located on all adopted streets where the borough is the Highway Authority:
• Will prune shrubs and roses in the Project Network in accordance with Good Industry Practice, given the age, genus, species, required form and flowering period of those shrubs and roses and such pruning will also maintain the characteristic natural shape of the relevant shrub or rose
• Will remove any dead shrubs and roses, and any gaps within a shrub or rose bed will be planted with the same species to match within the current growing season or the next available planting season (as appropriate)
• Will provide seasonal planting in accordance with the Annual Policy and Operational Plan
• For areas of over-run, including rutting and uneven ground, will provide programmed reinstatement proposals to the appropriate herbage standard for approval by the Authority
• All grounds maintenance services will be self-delivered, and
• Will only attend to designated adopted streets where the borough is the Highway Authority.

Exclusions

• •  We will not cut shrubs which are located in or on private property
  • We will not cut shrubs in parks, public open space, schools, or other Council-owned land such as Hounslow Homes areas. In these instances, please contact the Customer Services Team at the London Borough of Hounslow on 0208 583 2000.

If you have any enquiries regarding shrub beds, please submit an enquiry online here.

Hedges

Hounslow Highways carries out a regular maintenance programme for hedges located on the public highway.
• Will ensure that a hedge causing a danger or obstruction will be rectified within 24 hours
• Will ensure that all hedges on the will be pruned/trimmed to maintain shape in accordance with Good Industry Practice relevant to the species
• Will maintain all hedges at a maximum height of 1.5 meters and a maximum width of 1 metre, unless agreed otherwise with the Authority
• For areas of over-run, including rutting and uneven ground, will provide programmed reinstatement proposals to the appropriate herbage standard for approval by the Authority
• During the active nesting season will not carry out hedge pruning. The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 makes it an offence to disturb nesting birds.
• All grounds maintenance services will be self-delivered, and
• Will only attend to designated adopted streets where the borough is the Highway Authority.

Exclusions

• • We will not cut hedges which are located in or on private property, unless they are encroaching onto the highway, and this is only after a section 154 notice is served.
  • We will not cut hedges in parks, public open space, schools, or other Council-owned land such as Hounslow Housing areas. In these instances, please contact the Customer Services Team at the London Borough of Hounslow on 0208 583 2000.

If you have any enquiries regarding hedges, please submit an enquiry online here. 

Overhanging Vegetation on the Public Highway

Hounslow Highways, in accordance with the Highways Act 1980 (section 154), will require, by notice, the owner/occupier of a tree, hedge, or shrub which overhangs the public highway in a dangerous or obstructive way to lop or cut it in order to remove the cause of the danger, obstruction or interference. This action must be taken within 14 days of the date of service of the notice. If the person on whom the notice is served fails to comply with it, then Hounslow Highways will carry out the work and recover all expenses reasonably incurred.

Similarly, if a tree, hedge, tree, or shrub is dead, damaged, or diseased and because of its condition is liable to cause danger on the public highway, Hounslow Highways will require it to be removed by notice. If that notice is not complied with, Hounslow Highways will remove the offending vegetation and recover expenses accordingly.

If you would like to report a tree or vegetation overhanging a road or footway/footpath, please submit an enquiry online here.

For more information about weed spraying in the borough, please visit our treatment of weeds page.