--- title: "Grass Cutting of Highway Verges, Recreation Areas, Mill Field and Town Cemetery 2026-2029" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-05a8e5" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05a8e5" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05a8e5.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05a8e5.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "CHARLBURY TOWN COUNCIL" published: "2025-10-06" --- # Grass Cutting of Highway Verges, Recreation Areas, Mill Field and Town Cemetery 2026-2029 Buyer: CHARLBURY TOWN COUNCIL Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05a8e5 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05a8e5) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05a8e5.json) ## Summary Charlbury Town Council has initiated an open tender process for the grass cutting of highway verges, recreation areas, Mill Field, and the town cemetery in Charlbury, Oxfordshire, to be conducted from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029. This contract falls under the industry category of grounds maintenance services, with a procurement method described as below threshold - open competition. The tender process is currently at the tendering stage, and interested parties must submit their bids by 12 midday on 31 December 2025. Key locations involved include Nine Acres Recreation Ground and various other council-managed areas, with the primary focus on biodiversity preservation and maintenance efficiency. The tender documents can be obtained from the Town Clerk, and further inquiries must be sent by 14 December 2025. This tender offers significant business growth opportunities, especially for SMEs and VCSEs experienced in environmental management and grounds maintenance. The contract is divided into two lots, allowing companies to bid for specific areas or both. Businesses with relevant expertise in handling grounds maintenance in community settings or similar environments and who can demonstrate an understanding of biodiversity-friendly practices will find this tender particularly suitable. The evaluation will heavily weigh quality (60%) over price (40%), emphasising the importance of experience, the ability to meet detailed specifications, and compliance with environmental, health, and safety standards. This approach ensures the selection of contractors who not only offer competitive pricing but also demonstrate a commitment to quality and sustainable practices. ## Notice Charlbury Town Council invites tenders for a three-year contract (1 April 2026 - 31 March 2029) for the grass cutting of highway verges, recreation areas, Mill Field, and the town cemetery within Charlbury, Oxfordshire. Contractors may tender for: * Nine Acres Recreation Ground (including headlands) separately; * All other sites excluding Nine Acres; or * Both Nine Acres and the other sites together. The football pitches at Nine Acres are excluded from this contract, as they are maintained separately by Charlbury Football Club. The contract will involve regular mowing, strimming and vegetation control across multiple areas of the town, with sensitivity to biodiversity and wildflower areas as detailed in the specification. Contractors must take particular care when strimming around fence posts, gate posts, play equipment supports, and other stakes to avoid damage. Tenders will be evaluated on price and value for money (40%) and quality factors (60%), including relevant experience and references, environmental management and awareness of biodiversity, ability to deliver to the required specification and timescales, and compliance with insurance and health and safety requirements. Tender documents are available from the Town Clerk (clerk@charlbury-tc.gov.uk) and must be returned by 12 midday on 31 December 2025. The contract will commence on 1 April 2026. ### Lot Information Nine Acres Recreation Ground This lot covers grass cutting and vegetation management within the Nine Acres Recreation Ground, including the playground and surrounding headland areas, but excluding the football pitches (which are maintained separately by Charlbury Football Club). The work includes: Fortnightly mowing of the playground grass between April and September. Annual cutting and management of the headlands and biodiversity areas, in accordance with the specification. Sensitive management of tussocky and wildflower grassland areas to maintain habitat for pollinators, invertebrates, and small mammals. Strimming around obstacles such as posts, fences, and play equipment supports with particular care to avoid damage. Maintenance of access routes and shrub edges as described in the specification (headlands). Biodiversity is a key consideration for this site. The contractor must carry out works in a manner that minimises disturbance to wildlife, avoids cutting areas used by butterflies and nesting birds during the breeding season, and protects the range of wildflowers established across the site. Work must be undertaken using professional equipment and in a manner that ensures public safety, avoids noise disruption, and upholds environmental best practice. All cuttings must be removed or spread evenly where appropriate. The contractor must comply with all health and safety, environmental, and insurance requirements set out in the tender documents. All Other Areas (excluding Nine Acres) This lot covers the grass cutting and associated maintenance of other Council-managed areas in Charlbury, excluding Nine Acres Recreation Ground. The areas include: Highway verges, recreation areas, and the Town Cemetery. Mill Field and outlying benches. Ticknell Piece Playground and the Green. Areas previously managed by Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) and now maintained by Charlbury Town Council, as listed in the specification. Work includes regular mowing, strimming, and vegetation control throughout the season (typically March-October), with particular attention to biodiversity and the protection of wildflower areas. Contractors must recognise the ecological value of each site and adapt cutting regimes to support species diversity and pollinator habitats. Specific requirements include: Avoiding cuts during key flowering periods for native species where indicated. Retaining uncut buffer zones and margins to support wildlife corridors. Ensuring that arisings are removed or composted appropriately to prevent nutrient enrichment. Taking care when strimming around fence posts, gate posts, benches, and other fixtures to avoid damage. All work must be carried out in accordance with the specification, ensuring safe working practices, respect for wildlife, and maintenance of clear sight lines on verges and public paths. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/062585-2025 | | Notice type | UK4 - Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Below threshold - open competition | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 6 Oct 2025 | | Submission deadline | 31 Dec 2025 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2029 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £30,000 | | Lots value | £30,000 | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Active | | Lots status | Active | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | CHARLBURY TOWN COUNCIL | | Locality | CHARLBURY | | Post town | Oxford | | Postcode | OX7 3PN | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) | | ITL 2 | TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire | | ITL 3 | TLJ14 Oxfordshire CC | | Local authority | West Oxfordshire | | Electoral ward | Charlbury and Finstock | | Westminster constituency | Banbury | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 77 - Agricultural, forestry, horticultural, aquacultural and apicultural services ### Codes - 77314000 - Grounds maintenance services ## Release History - 6 Oct 2025 at 14:19 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/062585-2025 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/062585-2025 6th October 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-5942 Full tender pack including instructions to tenderers, specification, conditions of contract, form of tender, and form of agreement for the Grass Cutting of Highway Verges, Recreation Areas, Mill Field and Town Cemetery (2026-2029). ## Notice URLs - http://www.charlbury-tc.gov.uk - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05a8e5. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05a8e5.json.