Each week during the grass cutting season, which normally runs between mid-March through to mid-October, West Suffolk Council will be sending you an update on where they have been mowing and where they are scheduled to mow the following week. They have divided the district into three areas and aim to cut approximately one third of the amenity grass in each area, each week. When onsite the team always reviews whether the grass needs to be cut or what action needs to be taken. In addition, they send these weekly updates to parish and town councils. I attach the cutting schedule https://www.westsuffolk.gov.uk/grasscutting

Unfortunately grass cutting is affected by various factors such as weather and capacity, but if areas are not cut when planned the teams will be back as soon as possible to complete the work. In all cases, the planned and scheduled mowing for the forthcoming week is dependent on a range of issues including the prevailing weather conditions, staff and machinery availability. Due to the current wet ground conditions and because they don’t want to cause damage to the playing surface they are not cutting certain sports fields at present.

West Suffolk Council works hard to make sure that our grassed areas are maintained to appropriate standards throughout the district. These include our parks and green spaces, playing fields and recreation grounds, cemeteries, playgrounds (amenity areas) and grass verges maintained on behalf of Suffolk County Council. Some grass areas are cut at less frequent intervals in order to encourage a greater range of flora and fauna. They have stopped the general use of glyphosate, the broad-spectrum weedkiller, to help protect wildlife and the environment. The move follows the council’s commitment in its Environment and Climate Change Action Plan, to phase out the use of glyphosate. A consequence of not using this weedkiller is that grass and weeds around the base of trees and other vertical objects in grass will be allowed to grow longer and this might, to some, appear untidy. The council works with local councillors, residents and groups to identify where cutting regimes can be relaxed to encourage biodiversity.

West Suffolk Council is not responsible for the cutting or maintenance of all public land, and some is the responsibility of organisations such as Suffolk County Council or housing associations. Others may be the responsibility of organisations such as parish or town councils and more information concerning this can also be found athttps://www.westsuffolk.gov.uk/grasscutting