Description of the contract
An award has been made by Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council (the “Council”) to appoint the services of a consultant or consultancy company, to produce habitat management plans for a number of sites that are intended to be improved through the ‘Connecting Green Infrastructure’ regional project. The primary aim of the project, working as part of a new regional partnership, is to enable the co-design and co-delivery of Green Infrastructure (GI) in ways that meets local needs, supports communities and their health, builds ecosystem resilience, and enhances biodiversity.
The project is setting out a new and collaborative approach to designing and delivering green infrastructure (GI) across Neath Port Talbot (NPT), Swansea and Carmarthenshire, for the benefit of local communities and their natural environment.
Through volunteer development and engagement, and adaptation of internal work practices, the project will maintain and enhance existing GI, and make use of GI mapping to inform delivery and utilisation of new GI, delivering practical improvement projects across the region.
The full project activity will take place throughout Neath Port Talbot, Swansea and Carmarthenshire. However, this contract only relates to sites at various locations within Neath Port Talbot.
It is the expectation of the chosen consultant to produce habitat management plans either through review and update of existing management plans or production of a new for 10 listed sites. This should include detail on current condition, key features and provide management and improvement proposals where required.
The consultant will complete a programme of work made up of the following elements:
1. A review and update to existing management plans, made available. A number of sites, particularly local nature reserves.already have plans that require updating. This review will include analysing the reports, surveys and mapping done to date on the sites listed (identified *) along with site visits and ground-truthing surveys to then inform updates to the existing plans.
2. Preparation of new management plans for the remaining sites, including surveys and mapping.
3. The consultant will visit the sites listed and undertake an on the ground assessment of the current situation, undertaking habitat surveys and where necessary further ecological surveys where further investigation of a feature is necessary.
4. The consultant will complete management plans for each site, these should include but are not limited to the following:
a. Description of conservation status
b. Site ownership, roles and responsibilities (details to be provided)
c. Location and map of site
d. Details of Access
e. Land use and History (where details are available)
f. Site Description including habitats (including condition), notable flora and fauna, geology & geomorphology, physical structures, other features including those that promote community use. Maps, preferably using GIS should be created of each site, mapping habitats and key features.
g. Assessment of value to local people e.g. for education, health and wellbeing.
h. Management/enhancement objectives and proposals for 5 years e.g. for treatment of invasive non-native species; maintenance and enhancement of conservation interest including for any key species identified; accessibility and public usage.
i. Proposals for improvements to increase usage of the area (where appropriate) and suggest suitable activities that people could do at each site (or area within a site)
j. Monitoring and further specific survey proposals
k. Any other proposals/comments relating to potential opportunities for the improvement of green infrastructure.
5. Work closely with the Green Infrastructure and Biodiversity team to ensure the plans are fit for purpose and include all relevant and up to date information available.
Knowledge and/or experience in the field of Ecology/environmental management would be an advantage.
The sites listed for production of a Habitat Management Plan are as follows:
1. Cwm Du Glen and Glanrhyd Plantation LNR*
2. Eaglesbush Valley LNR*
3. Swansea Canal LNR*
4. The Gnoll Ponds – main pond next to visitor centre & Wildlife Pond nr Carpark
5. Jersey Park, Jersey Marine
6. Coed Bach*
7. Y Graig*
8. Talbot Memorial Park*
9. Stratton Way Pond*
10. Giants Grave
*Plans are already in place for these sites, review is required. All non-starred sites have no current management plans.
Once the contract is awarded existing Management plans and documentation will be issued for review, and site visits can be arranged, some guided with experts for the site. Existing mapping and biodiversity records for sites is also available for review.
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