Countryside Access Vegetation Management Framework Agreement

Description

Norfolk County Council has established a multi-provider framework agreement for countryside access vegetation management across Norfolk. Lot 1: Surface Vegetation.This covers the surface vegetation of trails and public rights of way.Norfolk will be subdivided into geographical contract ‘Areas’ consisting of grouped Parishes or key long continuous linear routes and presented with a total cutting distance in metres.Due to the nature of the work contractors will be expected to be able to carry out the contract delivery regardless of the terrain. This means that contractors will need to have the ability to carry out works across boardwalks, on riverbanks/ flood banks and in protected landscapes.Each contract Area is made up of a combination of the Environment Department’s trails and Highways Department’s public rights of way. The Highways Department network is cut up to twice per year, Environment Department are cut up to three times per year and the National Trails will have a dynamic approach due to the nature of predominately residing in protected landscapes.Side VegetationThis covers the need to address encroachment and re-establish the width / height of the access corridor. In most cases this will be delivered in the autumn/winter to avoid bird nesting season but where the cut requires soft vegetation (alexander, nettles) and not hard (bramble, hedge, or low branches) may be carried out earlier in the cutting season.