Throughout the township, you may have noticed the lush, vibrant stalks of bamboo along the twisting and turning roads of our community. Though this exotic plant can be a beautiful addition to cultivated landscapes, unchecked bamboo can quickly grow out of control. When bamboo grows too close to the road, its thick foliage can block or limit a driver’s ability to see, which may create hazardous driving conditions. Bamboo culling is especially important in the fall and winter, since colder weather can cause bamboo to droop into roadways, blocking both sight and traffic.
West Bradford Township has an ordinance in place outlining the expectations of bamboo maintenance along public roads within the township. This ordinance can be found in our township code: Section 380 (Streets and Sidewalks), Article III (Bamboo Near Roadways).
We ask for residents with bamboo on their property to ensure the plant is always at least 40 feet away from the edge of pavement or travel lane of any public roadway. Bamboo removal requires no prior permission from the township and can be carried out in a variety of ways, both temporary and permanent. While we understand that maintenance and removal of bamboo can be an arduous and lengthy task, it is important for the safety of our residents.
The township recognizes the effort needed to maintain this invasive yet striking plant, and we are thankful for our residents’ attention to the matter!
As a reminder, in the fall letters will be sent to residents with noted bamboo properties reminding them of the bamboo ordinance and thanking them for their continued upkeep. We encourage our residents to reach out to the township with any questions or concerns about bamboo maintenance.