Working with Nature Engaging Local People 2425

Description

Background:- The Countryside & Wildlife Team (C&W Team) of Neath Port Talbot Council (the Council) intend to continue a project this year focusing on habitat management and restoration on local places for nature around the county, particularly Local Nature Reserves. Within the scope of the work is the need to engage local communities and ‘Friends of’ groups across the NPT area to improve their local nature spaces in positive ways that best benefit local wildlife. The project is funded through the Local Places for Nature fund. Scope of Services:- Project Overview: The Countryside & Wildlife Team of Neath Port Talbot Council is seeking to appoint the services of a contractor to help to engage local people with local places for nature, particularly Local Nature Reserves. This would involve running volunteer sessions to include habitat management, wellbeing and citizen science projects. A key outcome of the project would also be to support local groups to better understand their local places for nature through training. The contractor will be required to work across NPT on 10 different sites regularly, with one-off events held at up to 20 more sites. Project Timescale: Neath Port Talbot Council’s Countryside and Wildlife Team are inviting quotations for a suitable contractor to deliver the above project. The project is to be completed by the end of March 2025. This project is time sensitive due to the nature of grant funding. Project location: The project will be focussed at 10 local places for nature across the county, particularly Local Nature Reserves and other sites which have been identified as of value to nature. These sites are: • Local Nature Reserves (Eaglesbush Valley, Pant-y-Sais Fen, Swansea Canal, Cwm Du Glen & Glanrhyd Plantation, Bryn Tip) • Coed Bach and Y Cwm • Maerdy Playing Fields • Tonna Woodland • King George V Park Pontardawe • Vivian Park Sandfields In addition, NPTC would like to request one ‘Wildlife Walk’ for each ward of the Borough which does not currently have activities taking place through projects, a list of which are included in the RFQ document. Specific sites and subjects of walks are to be decided with the Countryside and Wildlife Team: Contract Specification: • Volunteer sessions to include minor elements of habitat management (i.e. invasive species mapping and removal / litter picking) NB. Complementary practical conservation volunteer sessions will be delivered through a separate contract and so the key focus of the engagement sessions is to connect local people with the nature present on the site. The contractor will need to liaise with the habitat management contractor in order for the projects to complement each other. The appointed contractor will be expected to have proven knowledge and experience to allow them to deliver this. • Citizen science sessions (e.g. species surveys such as bat walks / bee walks) • Wellbeing sessions • General engagement sessions e.g. nature trails / guided walks • Family-based activities during school holidays. • Training for local groups on habitat management and species survey, to include accredited courses if possible. • Sessions are to be equally divided amongst the 10 sites. • Monitoring of key outcomes e.g. health and wellbeing benefits and increase in ecological understanding. To receive the quotation documentation please contact Rose Revera at r.revera@npt.gov.uk Closing date for quotations is 28 March 2024 at 16:00 hrs