During the grass growing season, which falls between March and November, Norse South East cut and maintain recreational areas, such as parks and open spaces, and grass verges in the borough on behalf of Havant Borough Council and Hampshire County Council.
The speed of growth is influenced by varying weather conditions and this may result in longer grass between cuts.
Highway verges on the A27 and A3M are looked after by National Highways.
Please be aware that we are unable to cut close to parked cars, move bins or remove any other obstructions on the verges. We also do not strim around trees.
Frequency of cuts
Cut times vary each year to suit growing conditions. It takes about 4-6 weeks to cut all grass across the borough.
In towns and other built-up areas, we cut and maintain grass verges during the growing season, which is typically between March and November.
What happens to cuttings
We do not collect grass cuttings as the cost would restrict the number of cuts we could carry out.
We try to blow cuttings back on to the verge. Some will fall into drains or gullies but they are unlikely to block as a result.
Why are areas of grass left uncut within the council’s green spaces?
You may have noticed that we have not cut some areas of grass in the borough. Don’t worry we’ve not forgotten them; it will just be cut later in the year. This is to support plants and pollinators, which are both in sharp decline, to grow.
Within some of our green spaces the council will be trialling a new method of grass management, where carefully selected areas will be mown less frequently to provide habitat for wildlife. This will encourage birds and a variety of insects. Long grass is also able to capture more carbon and store it in the soil.
Specifically during ‘No Mow May’ will help many creatures flourish that a lot of people don’t often think about – including bees, which help pollinate every crop that is the food source of humans.
As well as bees, the campaign also aims to support the lifecycles of other pollinators, including butterflies and moths, hoverflies and some soldierflies.
These areas are:
- Nursery Road, Bedhampton
- Padnell Park, Cowplain
- Snowberry Crescent, Denvilles
- Emsworth Park, Emsworth
- Hayling Park, Hayling Island
- Hermitage Stream, Leigh Park
- Fielders Park, Purbrook
- Jubilee Park, Waterlooville
- Widley Gardens, Widley
Once No Mow May is completed it is our aim to check the growth of the sites listed above and potentially leave them to grow naturally through to August or September.
We will continue to maintain the remained of the boroughs green spaces, so they are suitable for ball games and other recreational pursuits.