Description of the goods or services required
The Living Levels Partnership
The Living Levels Partnership is a Landscape Partnership Scheme (LPS) being developed by RSPB Cymru (lead agency), Gwent Wildlife Trust, Monmouthshire County Council, Natural Resources Wales, Newport City Council, Sustrans, National Trust, Buglife, Bumblebee Conservation Trust and Cardiff Story Museum. The Partnership has come together and developed a range of Projects that will work towards conserving and enhancing the natural heritage of the Gwent Levels and re-connect people with this amazing landscape on their doorstep.
The Gwent Levels is a South Wales estuarine landscape, rich in both historical and natural heritage. Reclaimed from the sea in Roman times, the land is a criss-crossed network of fertile fields and historic watercourses, known locally as reens. This unassuming yet appealing landscape of high skies and low horizons belies its statue as one of the finest examples of a community crafted landscape in Europe; and one of the largest tracts of bio-diverse wet grassland left in the UK.
Living Levels formally brings together like-minded but disparate stakeholders to work cross sector to collectively restore, enhance and protect the natural and historic heritage for all to enjoy. We will reconnect with diverse communities that live and work on the levels through stories, highlighting the importance and interdependence of communities and landscape, instilling and celebrating a sense of place and inspiring visitors to the area.
The Gwent Levels Revealed Project
Managing water across the Gwent levels has been a challenge ever since humans started to inhabit the area. From the Great Flood of 1607 to modern times, the risk of flood waters have jeopardised farming, housing and industrial activities. This has led to a complex system of manmade drainage systems evolving over time, including sea walls, reens and ditches being created from Roman and medieval periods, until over centuries the current pattern of drainage has formed.
Purpose of Project
One of the difficulties we face at the reserve is helping visitors to understand the importance of the landscape and how it contributes to flood management. We would like visitors to have a stronger sense of place with relation to the reserve and the wider landscape of the Gwent Levels, and to understand how that landscape functions. As the area is so flat it is hard to show this visually to visitors, so we would like to create an installation that demonstrates the complex water management system, and Newport Wetlands important role in this system. We aim to do this by designing and installing a bronze relief model showing part of the levels in detail. The plinth of the model will be wrapped in stainless steel, etched with a timeline depicting key historical events relating to the history of the water management of the area. We also plan to have a steel etched map in a lectern display stand showing the geographical area of the model within the context of the wider Gwent Levels.
Primary Audiences
The bronze relief model and lectern will potentially be seen by everyone who visits the nature reserve. We currently have 115,000 visits per year, including between 3,000 – 4,500 school children. The bronze relief model will be on view for every visitor to engage with either on their own self led visits, or as part of an event, group or school visit. We envisage using this model as an introduction point to start events, walks and activities on the reserve. As visitors gather around the bronze relief model we will be able to introduce the Gwent Levels geographical and physical features, and how the nature reserve forms a key part of this system. The bronze relief model will give visitors a stronger sense of place and a better understanding of the unique landscape, and it’s physical and heritage value.
Installation design and functionality
The installations must be robust and vandal proof, as the site is open to the public 24 hours a day, and has no restricted access areas. The installations must also reflect the industrial heritage of the site and the materials already used on site that relate historically to the area.
Criteria for Artist
The artist must have experience of working in bronze, and provide a portfolio of projects working within the public or third sector of a similar type and scale.
The artist must have a unique tax number
NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Sell2Wales Web Site at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=82094.
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