To facilitate all recycling including curtilage collection and all recycling banks. Cleansing Services incorporates domestic, trade, clinical and other special refuse collection; street sweeping including shopping areas, car parks and other Council properties; litter collection and abatement; cleaning of Public Conveniences.

Grounds Maintenence Division

• The Quarry

The Quarry is the main park situated in the town centre. It comprises of tree-lined open grass areas and The Dingle. The facility is maintained to high horticultural standards and has an area of 11.73 hectares. It is open to the public on a daily basis throughout the year. The Dingle contains ornamental seasonal flowerbeds, grassed areas, and water features.

The Complex comprises of two glass display houses, amenity grass areas, children's play area, paddling pool, tubs and hanging baskets, memorial seats, plaques and specimen trees.

The Quarry is used for the Shrewsbury Flower Show, carnivals, fun days and other special events.

• Crematorium and Cemetery

Ground maintenance is also carried out for these two services and a tranquil air with beautiful flowers is maintained at all times.

• Town Centre Feature Areas

Within these feature areas are found ornamental seasonal flowerbeds, carpet beds, fine turf areas, shrubbed areas, rose beds, water features, churchyards, specimen trees and displays featuring hanging baskets, tubs and floral planters. Most horticultural areas are situated around historical features, such as The Castle or churches.

• Open Spaces

These locations are maintained to the standards specified in the Grounds Maintenance Specification for Amenity Areas.

• Urban and Rural Amenity Areas; Hedges; Naturalised and Conservation Areas; Cemeteries and Churchyards

Amenity shrub and rose beds are located on housing estates, major and minor roads, traffic islands, etc. Amenity grass areas comprise verges, embankments, group dwellings, cemeteries, closed churchyards and open spaces. Naturalised and conservation areas are also included within these specified areas.

• Tree Maintenance

The Council undertakes routine tree maintenance operations on trees, from whips to mature trees. Maintenance operations will include adjustment of ties, new stakes, mulch mats, crown lifting, crown reduction, felling, formative pruning or replacement planting and herbicide control.

• Children's Play Areas

At present 35 play areas are situated within the Borough. A full-time Parks Maintenance Fitter is responsible for maintaining the areas in a litter and debris free condition and maintaining safety surfaces, including wet pore, bark and rubber tiles. Maintenance of all play equipment and safety checks in accordance with the appropriate grounds maintenance specification is included.

• Grounds Maintenance of Recreation Grounds and the Golf Course

Recreational activities include cricket, football, hockey, bowls, croquet, tennis, rounders, etc. Facilities provided include multi-sports areas, hard tennis courts and skateboard ramped areas.

The Municipal Golf Course is 36.5 Hectares in area and is open to the general public on a daily basis throughout the year except Christmas Day. Over 60,000 golfers play on the course every year. The course consists of twelve holes plus a "pitch & putt" facility.

• Council Fisheries

The Council owns fishing rights along much of the River Severn in Shrewsbury, together with its tributary, the Rea Brook. The fisheries are managed by agreement with the Shrewsbury Angling Management Committee, an offshoot of the Shropshire Anglers Federation. They bailiff the river, issue day tickets and carry out management and improvement of the facilities.

The River Severn offers outstanding coarse fishing and is a major venue for contest fishing (at the Quarry and County Ground). The river is noted for fine catches of pike, chub, roach, dace and bream, but its main claim to fame in this area is that the finest barbel fishing in England can be found here! Sadly, salmon runs are poor now and one can no longer catch large salmon, such as the 30lb one caught in 1991 at the Shrewsbury Weir. This is however a national trend, not just confined to the Severn.

• The Countryside Unit

The Countryside Unit was set up in 1990 to help bring about the joint objectives of:

1. Conserving the rich wildlife and countryside in and around Shrewsbury.

2. Improving opportunities for residents and visitors to enjoy and appreciate their natural heritage through quiet recreation and participation in management

To this end the following services are provided throughout the Borough:

• The management of the network of Countryside Heritage Sites and Community Woodlands which are in Council ownership - most notably the Rea Brook Valley Local Nature Reserve and the Old River Bed (SSSI). This enhances their nature conservation value and improves access facilities for people without damaging this wildlife value. This is carried out by community involvement where much of the work is done by volunteers, trainees and local people. Countryside Heritage Sites are 22 Council designated sites within the urban area which were found to have the highest nature conservation value following a comprehensive survey in 1990.

• The Unit formulates, consults on, and implements Countryside Strategies. In 1991 this was the Shrewsbury Countryside Strategy following the survey above. More recently the Council has adopted the Rural Area Countryside Strategy for the rest of the Borough.

• Provision of nature conservation advice and guidance to other departments within the Council, other organisations, educational establishments and the general public.

• The organisation of a year round programme of countryside events including guided walks, talks, a summer playscheme and winter tree planting.

• The promotion of the Unit's and the diversity of the countryside in and around Shrewsbury with the twice yearly production of the Shrewsbury Countryside Magazine, leaflets and an Annual Report. The Magazine is free and is available from various outlets in the town including: The Music Hall Tourist Information Centre, The Guildhall,  Quarry Swimming & Fitness Centre, The Post Office in St. Mary's Street, Shrewsbury Library and the Market Hall. Information copies are also available for Parish Councils and at Doctors' Surgeries within the Borough.

For more information refer to our Countryside Unit site

To support businesses and other enterprises to develop a more environmentally aware approach.

 

To advise and assist the Borough Council in ensuring environmental sustainability in its actions including for example major capital projects.

 

To develop community engagement through the vehicle of protecting and enhancing the local environment.

 

To work towards making Shrewsbury a Borough of Environmental Excellence by 2010.