Updates
Grass cutting and weed spraying operations will be resumed in spring 2025.
Cutting of Leicestershire County Council owned hedgerows is underway and will be completed by end December 2024.
Our most common grass cutting issues are covered in our frequently asked questions.
Frequently asked questions
How frequently can I expect the grass in the highway to be cut?
- Urban roads: in towns and villages are cut up to 6 times per year, as growing conditions require
- Rural roads: typically 50/60mph outside of villages are cut up to 3 times per year
- Dual carriageways: cut to a different schedule, which can be found under the High speed roads and dual carriageways heading on this page
Why has my grass verge been missed?
Sometimes we aren’t able to cut grass on a verge, this could be due to:
- An obstruction i.e. a parked vehicle / wheelie bin
- Daffodils which cannot be cut until June
- A dedicated wildlife/flower verge
Why have the grass cuttings been left?
The amount of clippings means we couldn't collect them. Our cutting teams use equipment to blow cuttings onto the verge, but this can sometimes be made harder by weather conditions.
Villages and towns maintained by a parish council on our behalf
The following parish councils cut their own grass verges under a joint agreement with Leicestershire County Council.
- Anstey
- Belvoir
- Bitteswell and Bittesby
- Breedon on the Hill
- Burton on the Wolds
- Castle Donington
- Foxton
- Gilmorton
- Great Bowden
- Great Glen
- Groby
- Hathern
- Husbands Bosworth
- Kibworth Harcourt
- Long Whatton and Diseworth
- Lutterworth
- Misterton with Walcote
- Mountsorrel
- North Kilworth
- Queniborough
- Ratby
- Scraptoft
- Seagrave
- Sharnford
- Shearsby
- Sileby
- South Kilworth
- Stoughton
- Thurnby and Bushby
- Tur Langton
- Wymeswold
- Witherley
At what point do you mow daffodils down?
Even though they look dead, the plant leaves absorb energy from sunlight (through photosynthesis). That energy is converted into sugar producing chemicals – food that keeps bulbs blooming year after year. If we mow them too early, bulbs are stunted, resulting in smaller and fewer blooms the following year.
How do I take part in your urban wildlife scheme?
View our list of current wildlife verges:
If you're keen to join the campaign and see verges left uncut in your town or village, please contact your parish or district council, or email environmentteam@leics.gov.uk
To find the most recent and upcoming cut dates, enter your postcode or street name into our interactive map below (please note that the dates displayed are scheduled and on occasions the grass cutters may be delayed for up to 3 working days).
By selecting a verge on the map, you’ll also be able to make a grass cutting report.
32 Parish Councils cut grass in their areas on our behalf.
Rural grass cutting
Junctions and bends in the road are cut right back for safety purposes – we have a duty to ensure visibility is maintained for road users.
Motorways and Trunk Roads are cut by National Highways
They are responsible for the A5 / A46 / A42 / A453 / A52 / A50 (J24 towards Stoke) / A14 / M1 / M69 / M42 and M6.
You can report a grass issue to National Highways by calling 0300 123 5000.
High speed roads and dual carriageways
High speed urban roads
| Location | Dates |
|---|---|
| Oadby, A6 London Road | 25 April, 16 May, 26 June, 24 July, 28 August, 18 September |
| Markfield, A50 Field Head | 25 April, 16 May, 26 June, 24 July, 28 August, 18 September |
| Birstall, A6 Loughborough Road Central Reservations | 26 April, 17 May, 27 June, 25 July, 29 August, 19 September |
| Loughborough, Epinal Way/Ashby Rd/Ling Road/Old A6 Central Reservations | 26 April, 17 May, 27 June, 25 July, 29 August, 19 September |
| A50, A46 Branting Hill to Glenfield Hospital | Between: 7 and 13 May, 17 and 21 June, 5 and 9 August, 23 and 27 September |
| Lubbesthorpe Way – City Boundary to Soar Valley Way | Between: 7 and 13 May, 17 and 21 June, 5 and 9 August, 23 and 27 September |
| Grove Farm Triangle, B4114 to Narborough | Between: 7 and 13 May, 17 and 21 June, 5 and 9 August, 23 and 27 September |
| Croft, Coventry Road Central Reservation | Between: 7 and 13 May, 17 and 21 June, 5 and 9 August, 23 and 27 September |
| Blaby Bypass | Between: 7 and 13 May, 17 and 21 June, 5 and 9 August, 23 and 27 September |
High speed rural roads
| Location | Dates |
|---|---|
| M1 Junction 21 | 25 May, 31 August |
| A4303 Junction 20 to Magna Park | First cut between 20 May and 7 June, second cut between 2 and 17 September |
| A47 Clickers Way | First cut between 20 May and 7 June, second cut between 2 and 17 September |
| A6 Great Glen Bypass | First cut between 20 May and 7 June, second cut between 2 and 17 September |
| A46 Newark Road, Thurmaston | First cut between 20 May and 7 June, second cut between 2 and 17 September |
| A50/A511 Groby to Bardon | First cut between 20 May and 7 June, second cut between 2 and 17 September |
| A47 Billesdon Crossroads | First cut between 20 May and 7 June, second cut between 2 and 17 September |
| A6 Birstall to Loughborough | First cut between 20 May and 7 June, second cut between 2 and 17 September |
| A6 Derby Road Dishley to Hathern | First cut between 20 May and 7 June, second cut between 2 and 17 September |
Spraying of weeds
We don't have a specific policy for weed removal from the highway – our policy is to spray perennial weeds.
We employ a contractor to spray perennial weeds in the road channels and footways twice a year, to arrest and control growth, preventing structural damage to highway assets. This process is not designed to achieve weed-free roads all year round.
How often does the council weed spray?
Weed spraying is a routine maintenance activity to prevent structural damage to highway infrastructure. The spraying happens twice each year, over a 4-6 week period. The first spray happens in May/June and the second spray in August/September.
What weedkiller do you use?
Our specialist contractor uses a Glyphosate based product to treat weed on the public highway. Please see the GTMS Environmental Services website for further information.
Do you spray in all weathers?
Weather conditions can impact on the progress of the programme as weed spraying cannot happen in wet or windy conditions. As a result, timing of this activity can vary.
Do you remove dead weeds?
We do not remove dead weeds after they have been sprayed. It takes up to 15 days for weeds to start dying back once they have been sprayed. Street cleansing is the responsibility of your local district/borough council.
Can I request a return visit?
We do not have the resources to carry out additional weed spraying visits.
How do you treat invasive weeds?
There is a supplementary programme for the specific treatment of noxious and invasive weeds such as Ragwort and other weeds such as Japanese Knotweed.
If you have concerns about a noxious or invasive on the public highway then you can report it using the the customer service online contact form.
Hedge cutting
The majority of hedges are privately owned by adjacent landowners.
Routine cutting of our highway owned hedges is restricted to between October and February, to avoid bird nesting season and fit around the grass cutting programme.
Hedges are only cut for safety reasons to ensure branches do not overhang the carriageway or footway/cycleways. Use our online Report it form to let us know of any safety issues.
Edging back requests
Edging back mean ‘pushing back’ overgrown verge which has spread and narrowed the existing footway and is usually done between October and March when the ground is softer.
Resources are directed at priority sites. For example, where concern is raised that the footway width is reduced so much that it is making it difficult for parents with pushchairs or wheelchair users to pass.
Disclaimer
The grass cutting map is only an illustrative representation of the areas which the council understands to be its responsibility as Highway Authority. The extent of the adopted public highway was not verified when compiling this dataset, so it may contain inaccuracies.
If you have reason to believe that any of the information is incorrect, please send a plan along with supporting information to the council’s Highway Record Enquiries team (hre@leics.gov.uk) where the extent of the highway in the vicinity of the grass area will be investigated.
Please note that the presumption without evidence to the contrary is that any ditches or private boundary features (e.g. hedges) which overlap into the areas shown are the responsibility of the landowner adjoining the highway, and not the Highway Authority.