Skip to content
Exit mobile menu
Alumni
Students
Staff
Accessibility tools
Open Days
Study
Study
View all courses
Search courses
Courses by subject
Undergraduate
Undergraduate open days
How to apply
Tuition fees
Student funding
Work placement year
Undergraduate degrees with a foundation year
Postgraduate
Online MBAs
Online degrees
Open Days
How to apply
Fees and funding
PGCE and teacher training
Primary education courses
Secondary education courses
PGCE open evenings
How to apply
Step-by-step application guides
Personal statement generator
Transfer to St Mary's
Scholarships and bursaries
Why St Mary's?
Apprenticeships
Short courses and CPD
Information for parents and supporters
Chat to us
Open Days
Prospectus
Virtual tour
Student life
Student life
Accommodation
View our halls of residence
Commuting
Life on campus
Students' Union
Sport for students
Campus facilities
Our London location
Student newsletter
Support and wellbeing
Student wellbeing
Career support
Chaplaincy
Safety and security
Cost of living advice and support
Academic support
Scholarships and bursaries
Library and IT services
Study support
Registry
Guide for...
Commuting students
Mature students
Guide for care leavers
Parents of applicants
What our students say
Student stories
Student blogs
Study around the world
Chat to us
Open Days
Term dates
Virtual tour
International
International
Nationality guides
Select your country
Study at St Mary's
Search degree courses
Spend a semester at St Mary's
How to apply
Accepting your offer
English language requirements
Summer schools
Funding
Tuition fees
Scholarships
Cost of living
Support and guidance
English language support
Visa information
Brexit guide
Life at St Mary's
Why choose St Mary's?
International student experience
Accommodation information
On-campus support
Preparing for university
Contact us
Webinars
Virtual tour
Research
Research
Research areas
Business and law
Communications, humanities and social policy
Education and teaching
English and creative arts
Human and applied sciences
Theology and ethics
Research centres
Research degrees
Doctoral College
Entry requirements
How to apply
Research fees
Research at St Mary's
Conferences and events
Research blogs
Research services for staff
Research services for students
Webinar archive
Research strategy
PhD studentships
Research archive
Sport
Sport
Get involved
Gym memberships
Fitness classes
Facility hire
Children's sport
Holiday camps
Sport facilities
Student sport
Sport scholarships
Clubs and memberships
Gym memberships
Coaching and volunteering
Coaching bursaries
Sport and health services
Sport scholars
Endurance Performance Centre
FA Women's High Performance Football Centre
London Irish RFC
International elite sport
News: Sports Gazette
Student sport
Contact us
About
About
About the University
History and heritage
Corporate information
Equality, diversity and inclusion
Catholic mission
Papal visit 2010
Our people
Senior team
Staff directory
Find an expert
Academic faculties
St Mary's University Press
Edinburgh campus
Working at St Mary's
Current vacancies
Information for employers
Alumni
Alumni services
Support St Mary's
Events and reunions
Update your details
Simmarian magazine
Proof of degree
Friends of St Mary's
Local community
News and events
Latest news
Blogs
Upcoming events
Information for journalists
175th Anniversary
Event and venue hire
Conferences and meetings
Parties
Filming
E-Sports Arena
Wedding receptions
Schools and colleges
Information for teachers and advisors
Widening participation and outreach
Contact us and maps
Term dates
Full A-Z
Full A-Z
About St Mary's
Academic departments
Academic support
Accommodation
Alumni
Apply to St Mary's
Businesses: work with us
Campus maps and directions
Careers services
Centre for Teaching Excellence and Student Success
Chaplaincy
Contact us
Coronavirus guidance
Corporate information
Courses
Current student information
Equality, diversity and inclusion
Events
Fees and funding
Graduation
International students
St Mary's University Press
Jobs at St Mary's
Library and IT services
News
Open Days
Prospectus
Quality and Standards
Registry
Research
Safeguarding and prevent
Safety and security
Short courses
Sport
Staff directory
Student services
Students' Union (SMSU)
Study abroad
Teacher training
Term dates
Venue hire
Wellbeing and support
Students
Staff
Accessibility tools
Home
Estates and Campus Services
Grounds and Gardens
Grounds and Gardens Service Level Agreement
Service Level Agreement - Grounds and Gardens
Contents
Service Delivery
Routine Grounds Maintenance
Seasonal Grounds Maintenance
Arboriculture
Miscellaneous Works
Waste and Recycling
1. Service Delivery
Duration of Agreement: This agreement is an open ended agreement which will remain open indefinitely unless withdrawn, terminated or superseded.
Description of Services: This Service Level Agreement covers the provision of a Grounds Maintenance Service for the University campuses at Waldegrave Road and Teddington Lock. It excludes smaller satellite locations where the service may vary significantly or be contracted out by the Grounds Management Staff within Estates and Campus Services.
General Services: The Grounds Team will:
provide contact via the Facilities Helpdesk during operational hours of 08:00-16:00 Monday to Thursday, 08:00 to 15:00 Friday.
Be professional at all times.
Monitor the quality of work to maintain professionally managed attractive Grounds and Gardens.
Comply fully with relevant legislation.
Maintain good Health and Safety practice observing Grounds Specific Risk Assessments for tasks and equipment.
2. Routine Grounds Maintenance
Mowing: The Grounds Team will mow grass areas from March to December to maintain grass height of between 25mm and 75mm. Weather conditions may result in grass length exceeding the specified limits; in this case the grass will be cut as soon as practicable once conditions improve.
Strimming: The Grounds Team will strim areas where mowers cannot access, the edges of mown areas, and obstacles within them every third mowing cycle.
Flail Mowing: Rough areas such as the woodland understorey and rear of DeMarillac Halls of residence will be flail mown prior to finishing off by strimming approximately every six weeks during the mowing season unless conditions deem it unnecessary or not suited, in these instances it will resume as soon as appropriate.
Edging: The Grounds Team will re-form and edge lawns and beds annually with edging irons and shears.
Pruning and Hedge cutting: Pruning and Hedge cutting will take place annually and shrubs will be pruned to maintain consistent size and shape once they have reached the desired size and form. Where possible the Grounds Team will routinely shred prunings at the work site and return them to the ground in the area they were removed from to compost in situ. Where this is not possible due to unsuitability or noise restrictions they will be removed and shredded in an area designated for the disposal of green waste.
Leaf Clearance: Leaf will be collected and cleared from areas throughout the year. Primarily this will be in the months of October through to January but species dropping leaves or debris at other times will also be collected and all leaf will be removed on a prioritised basis with high profile cleanliness and health and safety the priority.
Weed Control: Weeds in paths and roads will be managed with the use of herbicide applications undertaken routinely four times per year with supplementary applications when necessary. Weeds in grass areas or shrub beds may be managed by either herbicide applications or by manually removing them or a combination of both.
Sports Turf and Pitches:
Sports turf will be maintained and managed in accordance with sports turf industry guidelines subject to resource, conditions and availability of the sports surfaces. Pitches will be provided and marked appropriately once a week with student sport and the academic program taking priority in their provision.
The Grounds Team will set the season for provision of winter and summer sport facilities revising this annually subject to the academic year and the seasonal requirements of the maintenance program.
The Grounds Team as the sports turf specialists within the University will make the decision as to the suitability of pitches for use and advise and make recommendations on sustainable levels of use. The Grounds Team will also make decisions related to cancellations of fixtures where their continuation will have a negative impact on the surface ongoing through the season.
Any additional sports surface provision will be undertaken on agreement with the client. An assumption of agreement to the provision of additional facilities should not be made, in particular where inadequate notice or non-University core business, (student and academic use), is not the case as provision is not guaranteed by this SLA under those circumstances.
Wildflower Meadow: The Grounds Management Team will continue to maintain the wildflower meadows with the use of specialist contracted services to ensure that the areas continue to remain an attractive frontage to the University premises at the South Western end of the Waldegrave Road campus and facing the Graham halls of residence. The perennial wildflowers will receive 4 annual maintenance visits. The annual wildflowers will need to be re-sown annually and the area cut and cultivated to facilitate this.
3. Seasonal Grounds Maintenance
Sports Pitch Renovations: Sports pitch renovations of significant impact will take place at season closure, refer to item 2.8 for season date details. Some mid-season additional works will be undertaken as required when identified by the Grounds Team. For example this may include additional de-compaction work when poor drainage of heavy use indicates its worth.
Pruning: Heavy,(rejuvenation), pruning, to reduce the height or width of hedges for example, or where work from a MEWP (mobile elevated work platform) is required, will take place annually or less frequently where appropriate:
Snow and Ice clearance: The Grounds Team will clear snow and ice during periods of poor weather and will aim to keep the University open and operational at all times. The
‘Clearance of Snow and Ice Policy’
will provide a plan of action, priorities, and priority areas, and the extent of work undertaken.
4. Arboriculture
Tree Survey: The Grounds Management Team will obtain an independent tree survey every three to five years. The Grounds Team will act on the outcome of the tree survey to address risk and ill health in trees to maintain a safe and aesthetically pleasing campus.
Tree Works:
The Grounds Team will routinely in every day activity observe and report back to the Grounds Management Team any observations that may indicate defects, ill health, risk, or damage to trees that requires attention. The Grounds management Team will assess and address these promptly subject to their inspection. Where deemed necessary the Grounds Management Team will seek additional independent advice for a second opinion.
The Grounds Team with the support of contracted services will undertake works to promptly address issues of risk and ill health in trees to maintain a safe campus. All work undertaken to trees will also be undertaken and completed to a professional standard.
Out of hours problems related to trees can be reported to the security office who will contact the Grounds Management Team who will then arrange swift action where risk to persons and/or property is a factor.
Tree Planting: The Grounds Team will re-plant trees that die to maintain an aesthetically pleasing campus as is necessary. Trees will be planted in accordance with best practice. The Grounds Team will offer advice and assist where possible to facilitate any requests to plant trees by other University staff and students.
Tree Preservation Orders and Conservation Areas: The Grounds Team will seek permission from the local authority to work on trees subject to tree preservation orders or within conservation areas prior to commencement unless the risk requires swift action. Where risk necessitates swift action the Grounds Team will ensure adequate evidence of the need to proceed, including photographic evidence, is obtained prior to commencing or authorising works.
5. Miscellaneous Works
Minor works: The Grounds Team will undertake some minor works linked to Grounds Maintenance tasks they are undertaking to improve campus aesthetics and facilitate more efficient undertaking of other Grounds tasks or to minimise risk associated with them. For example; The Grounds Team may install knee rail fencing to protect heavy wear areas of grass from pedestrians taking short cuts.
6. Waste and Recycling
Waste Management: The Grounds Management Team as the liaison with waste contractors and legislative bodies will drive change in waste management practice. Change will be implemented by institution wide management structures.
Litter Collection: The Grounds Team will undertake daily litter picking each weekday morning. Additional weekend litter picking will be by arrangement. Campus care tasks including continual daily litter picking will be sourced from contracted services by the wider Estates and Facilities Team.
Waste Collection: Waste collection is undertaken by waste and recycling operatives working within the Grounds Team. This function does not remove the obligation of staff and students to use the facilities for the disposal of waste and recyclable materials correctly and has a primary role to empty litter bins and commercial size waste or recycling bins into waste compaction equipment for disposal.
7. Resource
Budget and Labour Resource: All service provision and ability to deliver on this SLA in terms of both purchasing required materials and staff output is subject to the adequate provision of capital budget and staff resource to meet demand and obligation. At the time of writing the Team consists of 10 full time staff.
Get in touch
Have a question? Find out who to contact and speak to us now!
Contact Us
Browser does not support script.
Browser does not support script.
Browser does not support script.
Browser does not support script.
Browser does not support script.
Browser does not support script.
Browser does not support script.
Browser does not support script.
Browser does not support script.