The smell of freshly cut grass has returned to Bucks this week as a summer of maintenance gets underway – but bosses say there are limits to their powers.

Buckinghamshire County Council launched its grass cutting programme this month –but like last year, public spaces are cut six times a year rather than 12 in previous years.

As well as the operations in towns, council teams will cut grass twice in rural areas, with a further cut taking place at bends and road junctions to ensure road safety.

But the council has warned residents that in rural areas, that the nine dedicated teams – each cutting 40 football pitch-sized sections a day – cannot work miracles.

Mike Freestone, BCC’s director of transport services, said: “TfB is set up with new machinery, a robust programme and a competent workforce, so we are set to ensure that the grass cutting is carried out efficiently, effectively and on programme.

“Please do not expect a ‘bowling green’ type cut, however, we must be realistic about the cutting process and understand that safety requirements such as visibility at junctions comes first.”

For the first time this year, individual parishes have taken control of their own cutting operation after taking advantage of devolution cash on offer from the county council.

So far 23 parishes across Buckinghamshire have signed up, and 26 more have committed to the scheme.

It comes after areas including Marlow complained at the quality of the maintenance of public areas.

Transport for Buckinghamshire, which oversees the project, said 30 million square metres of grass including verges in residential areas, rural roads and at road junctions will be trimmed.

This figure is equivalent to cutting approximately 71,000 home garden lawns.

The first of six cuts is underway and will take around six weeks.

To see which areas will be treated first, visit www.transportforbucks.net/Public-Maps-Page.aspx