Environment Minister Sylvan Richards has claimed responsibility for overgrown grounds that greeted students at the start of the school year.

Mr Richards apologised to students, saying recent heavy summer rains had taxed the Parks Department's resources.

Parks crew “scrambled” to maintain priority areas — but the rapid growth of grass led to “a surge in damaged equipment at a time when we needed this equipment the most”.

More than ten inches of rain fell during August, the Minister added, causing grass to flourish by up to an inch a day.

Public Works is helping Parks with equipment repairs, he said — and the two will collaborate with the Department of Education “to ensure completion of all landscape maintenance work of school grounds is completed prior to next year's opening day”.