North Somerset

The Landscape Group were awarded the grounds maintenance contract for North Somerset Council in January 2005 for a five year period with the possibility of further extensions.

More than two thirds of the district is rural, covering an area of approximately 144 square miles.  The majority of customers live in the four towns: the attractive sea-side towns of Weston-super-Mare, Clevedon and Portishead and Nailsea, a town built around the original Somerset Village.

The contract boundary stretches from the Severn Estuary and River Avon in the north to the Mendip Hills in the south with 27 miles of coastline and areas of outstanding natural beauty making the district a significant draw for holidaymakers.  The quality of the grounds maintenance service is therefore an important factor in the local tourism economy, and the area is visited by more than 5 million tourists annually.

Our work comprises:

• Grass cutting and edging

• Planting and maintenance of shrubs, roses and climbing plants
• Floral displays including formal beds, spring and summer displays, carpet beds, hanging baskets and planters of varying types
• Planting and maintaining hedges
• Planting and maintaining trees
• Leaf clearance
• Litter collections
• Maintenance and marking of sports pitches
• Cleansing of associated buildings, shelters and changing facilities
• Weed control

On winning the contract, a new management team was put in place by The Landscape Group to ensure a smooth transition of the existing operatives within the TUPE process.  A productive relationship with officers of the council was created to enable a new style of culture, ownership, responsibility and quality.

Throughout the contract The Landscape Group have initiated training for the operatives

involved with the day to day running of the contract, including various NVQ courses and apprenticeships. 

In November 2008 Grove Park in the centre of Weston-super-Mare was named as the best park in the South West.  Judges ruled that Grove Park appealed to both local and visitors alike and complimented its traditional features, safe atmosphere and high levels of maintenance.

In November 2010 Grove Park was judged as an award winning park at the BALI National Landscape Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London.

Since the award of the contract The Landscape Group have been instrumental in assisting North Somerset Council in adding to their Green Flag site portfolio and in maintaining the regularly high awards achieved each year in the Britain in Bloom judging.