Environment

We are committed to enhancing the environment of Aylesbury Town.

We believe partnership working gives the basis for the future. We have worked with Buckinghamshire Council, Fairhive (formerly the Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust), Aylesbury College, the Police and Police Community Support Officers, the Fire Service, Vale Volunteers and local groups like St John’s, Brownies and Scouts. All these people have greatly benefited the town.

Here are some of the projects Aylesbury Town Council has undertaken:

Each year Aylesbury Town Council mounts a stunning array of hanging baskets, troughs and planters which are augmented by the Buckinghamshire Council floral displays in Vale Park.

We also run an annual garden competition, Aylesbury in Bloom, for residents, schools and local organisations. Categories include Front Garden, Back Garden, Edible Garden and Wildlife Garden.

During the grass growing season, which falls between March and November, we cut and maintain grass verges in towns and other urban areas within 30mph speed limits, for safety and visibility reasons.

Depending on the weather, our Outdoor Maintenance Team will start grass cutting in March and will continue through to autumn. Grass cutting can be repeated up to nine times this year. The team make their way through wards within the Parish of Aylesbury – starting at Central then Quarrendon and then they work anti-clockwise through remaining wards. They also go out to several other Parishes – Dinton with Ford and Upton, Weston Turville, Aston Clinton, Stoke Mandeville and Bierton. The speed of growth is influenced by varying weather conditions and this may result in longer grass between cuts.

We kindly ask residents to please avoid parking on grass verges. Our Outdoor Maintenance Team do what they can to keep grass tidy but can’t always get to all verges. We are unable to cut close to parked cars, move bins or remove any other obstructions on the verges. Parking on grass verges can cause costly damage to machinery and the verge itself as well as causing delays to the Town’s grass cutting schedule.

Walton Pond needed some care after it was ownerless. After a thorough report, the Town Council produced a project plan which was implemented in December 2009. The main objective was to increase the water quality. Now, biodiversity of the pond has increased and has provided a habitat for wildlife and flora.

Historically, there was once a pond in the Old Stoke Road allotments site. This was filled over and became prone to flooding. In 2010, the Aylesbury Town Council Outdoor Maintenance Team reopened the area and created a new pond which since has created biodiversity around the pond.

The California Brook runs through the Southcourt Ward of Aylesbury. After the opening of the Bourg Walk Bridge, it was clear the area around the brook needed some developments.

Hedges and trees surrounding the brook were very overgrown and branches were hanging into the water meaning floating debris got caught. The brook was clogged with other items that at some time had been deposited in the stream. Close by stood a row of dilapidated garages which caused an eyesore.

The then Buckinghamshire County Council, Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust (now Fairhive), Aylesbury Town Council, Aylesbury College, local residents, PCSOs, former Aylesbury Vale District Council and the Fire Service combined to transform the area to a peaceful walkway.

The Town Council has assisted some Aylesbury schools in the creation of vegetable beds. A large garden that has been neglected was transformed into a vegetable garden used by various groups.

Aylesbury Town Council continue to be involved in several bulb, shrub and tree planting projects. In time for the spring season, daffodils are planted at the entrances on the main roads into town and in the Thame Road. Trees have been planted in various locations including Aylesbury College.

Shrub and perennial planting has been undertaken in Upper Hundreds and the Cambridge Street underpass. The planting replaced overgrown areas.

The Town Council maintains over 202 litter bins and 214 dog bins within the town. On average, one litter bin is vandalised each week and although most are reported to us, it is always helpful if anyone finds any vandalised litter bin or knows a bin that is not being emptied, to report it. Please call 01296 425678 or email info@aylesburytowncouncil.gov.uk

The Council considers the conservation and promotion of local biodiversity in all its activities, but particularly regarding the management of its land. The Council will seek to manage its green spaces in a manner that promotes and protects biodiversity. The Council’s Chemicals in Open Spaces policy commits the Council to using pesticides in an environmentally responsible manner and to identifying environmentally-friendly alternatives.