THE grounds maintenance division of the district's largest housing association has splashed out £200,000 on new equipment as the grass cutting season begins.

Home Fix Scotland crews are out and about beginning the maintenance of open spaces in the ownership of River Clyde Homes.

The 15 strong team will be a regular sight across Inverclyde over the next seven months and a new cutting programme has been set up that means sites should be cut every three weeks.

They will be looking after open space the equivalent of over 990 football pitches.

There are also several purposely unmaintained areas of land, to provide environmental opportunities for rewilding and tree planting.

Bosses at RCH say they are working towards planting trees and wild meadows by 2030 as part of the environmental sustainability improvements, and where it is suitable for wildflowers to grow naturally these areas will also be encouraged.

Derek Ferguson, managing director of HFS, said: "We have boosted our team this year and with the additional investment in machinery I anticipate that customers will notice the difference.”