Garden Maintenance and Green Spaces
We want our neighbourhoods to be safe, tidy and pleasant places to live. To help make this clear, responsibilities for gardens and green spaces are shared between BCHG and customers, depending on whether the area is communal or private.
BCHG's responsibility
BCHG maintains communal green spaces, including grass cutting, communal trees, paths and rubbish clearance. Trees in communal spaces are maintained by BCHG. We are also responsible for boundary fencing, walls and gates installed by us or with permission.
Your responsibility
Residents are responsible for the upkeep of their private gardens, including grass cutting, plants, trees, rubbish removal, and maintaining clothes lines or posts. Trees in private gardens are the resident's responsibility unless they are part of a communal area.
Any paths, hard standings or fencing installed by customers remain their responsibility, although unsafe structures may be removed if they pose a health and safety risk.
Gardens should be kept tidy and safe so they do not cause a nuisance or risk to others.
Need tips on maintaining your garden? Our grounds maintenance team from Homeforce share their five top tips for beginner gardeners: 1. Start small and simple: begin with a small area or a few pots to manage your workload and gain experience. 2. Choose easy-to-grow plants: select vegetables, flowers, or herbs known for their resilience and ease of care in your region. 3. Understand your local climate and soil: research your area's typical weather patterns and soil type to choose plants that thrive in these conditions. 4. Watering and pest control: learn how to water plants properly (focusing on the root ball) and monitor for pests, taking early action if needed. 5. Take it slow and have fun: gardening is a learning process. Don't be discouraged if things don't go perfectly right away, and enjoy the process of growing your plants
You can also find helpful tips from the gardening charity RHS via their website here
