Grass Cutting - Rural Roads
Last updated | 25/04/2007
Grass verges on rural roads are generally cut twice a year (in urban areas the grass verges are cut more often for amenity reasons).
The first cut (one swathe width plus visibility splays) starts about the middle of May and takes about six weeks. The second cut follows shortly afterthe first cut is completed. Depending on the weather and growth we may have to do a third cut in some areas and some junctions and visibility splays may also be cut more often for safety reasons.
Rural verges are cut for the following reasons:
- to maintain visibility splays for road users
- to provide a refuge for pedestrians where there is no footway
- to control the growth of scrub
- to control harmful weeds
- to facilitate maintenance works including ditch cleaning etc.
- to maintain visibility to signs
There are several special verges identified within Perth and Kinross where flora and fauna of local or national interest exist. We consult with the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) who have identified a number of locations. These are missed out when the routine gradd cutting is being donne, and volunteers from SWT look after these verges during the growing season. Often we will include them in a final late-season cyt, to control the growth of weeds.
