8.5.4  Soft Landscaping

The Contractor shall keep all soft landscaped areas maintained to a high standard, with consideration given to individual plants such that the planting scheme provides variations in scale and appearance as well as all-year round colour to provide a durable and aesthetically pleasing overall effect.

In particular:

a)  Planted (including grassed) areas to be maintained to provide a neat and tidy appearance with healthy growth, substantially free from dead/ damaged/ infested/ diseased specimens, weeds, litter (irrespective of source), animal waste, etc; and

b)  The Contractor is required to develop a planned maintenance programme that includes the application of all fertilisers, herbicides and dressings necessary to sustain healthy growth, but to minimise the use of pesticides and chemicals harmful to health.

In the event of exceptionally inclement weather or where Good Industry Practice dictates an alternative maintenance methodology in maintaining the soft landscaped areas, the standards set out in Annex III may be extended and/or excused as reasonably agreed with the Authority.