Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Nature Conservation and Parks Management of Hounslow Heath Local Nature Reserve and Open Space. The London Borough of Hounslow (the Council) invites you to submit an expression of interest for the services detailed above. Please submit your expression of interest via londontenders.org. By 1200 hrs on 19th May 2017 (19/05/2017). Expressions received after the deadline shall not be considered. If you have any clarifications regarding this exercise please submit your questions via the messaging facility available on londontenders.org by 1200 hrs on 17th May 2017 (17/05/2017). 1. Introduction This document sets out the requirements for a Service Provider to undertake full time active positive nature conservation and parks management of Hounslow Heath Local Nature Reserve (LNR) and open space that will ultimately provide a better service for the local community. The council is seeking to implement a revised management model for Hounslow Heath that aims to deliver nature conservation for both habitats and species as well as improve community engagement and deliver traditional parks management. 2. Background and Context Hounslow Heath Local Nature Reserve and open space is located in the London Borough of Hounslow at Grid Reference TQ125747. See figure one and two below. Figure one: Location of Hounslow Heath (outlined in blue) in the London Borough of Hounslow. Scale: 1:60000 Figure two: Hounslow Heath. Scale: 1:8000 The site is located between the communities of Hounslow and Feltham. The A312 Staines Road runs along the northern boundary of the site whilst the southern boundary is formed by the railway line from Waterloo to Staines. The site visitor centre (currently not open to the public) and car park are situated in the north east corner of the site where the A312 meets Frampton Road. The site is 81.95 hectares in total including an area of 2 hectares which is known as The Fairground Site that is excluded from the Local Nature Reserve designation. The primary land uses on Hounslow Heath LNR are nature conservation and informal recreation. The latter consists mainly of walking and dog exercise, nature study, jogging, cycling and horse riding. Hounslow Heath was declared a statutory Local Nature Reserve (under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, 1949) in 1991. It is also classified as a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) and designated as a Site of Metropolitan Importance (SMI) for wildlife by the London Ecology Unit (Pape 1990) and retained as such under a review completed in 2012 by the Council and the Greater London Authority. This evaluation was adopted by London Borough of Hounslow within its Local Plan and protected under Policy GB7: Biodiversity. Note that the revised management model will only cover the portion of the SINC outlined above in figure one and two. It will not cover Hounslow Heath Golf Course (which is also part of the whole SINC). However advice and guidance may be sort from the service provider from time to time. Hounslow Heath is an extensive area of acid and neutral grassland, with developing heathland where restoration has encouraged natural regeneration of heather (Calluna vulgaris). Rare plants of heathland and acid grassland include bell heather (Erica cinerea), dwarf gorse (Ulex minor), petty whin (Genista anglica), dyer's greenweed (Genista tinctoria), heath rush (Juncus squarrosus), heath-grass (Danthonia decumbens) and mat-grass (Nardus stricta). There are also important moss and lichen communities. Breeding birds include linnet, skylark, reed bunting and abundant whitethroat, and a variety of passage and wintering species are also regularly recorded. This is also an important site for protected reptiles, with four species present. The invertebrate fauna is diverse, and includes numerous local and nationally scarce species. There are several ponds supporting typical wetland plants and animals, and small areas of marginal scrub and woodland. This is currently one of London's few sites managed through a conservation grazing programme. Hounslow Heath was part of a High Level Environmental Stewardship Agreement funded by Natural England which covered restoration and management of heathland, grassland and scrub communities. This came to an end in 2016 and will need to be reviewed. Hounslow Heath is owned by the London Borough of Hounslow. The grounds maintenance management of the boroughs parks, open spaces and countryside sites is currently outsourced and delivered by Carillion Integrated Services on behalf of Hounslow Council. The management of countryside sites differs from that of the parks sites and this is due to the high level nature conservation value of these sites and the type of services they provide to the local community. Due to the high ecological value of the site, Hounslow Heath is one of the countryside sites that requires a revised management model that will deliver active positive nature conservation management focusing in the first instance on Heathland restoration and acid grassland management. Under section 40 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006, the London Borough of Hounslow has an obligation to manage the site with due regard to conservation of biodiversity. In order to fulfil this obligation and deliver active positive nature conservation and habitat management (e.g. heathland restoration) the council would like to explore a range of management models and opportunities that will improve the LNR and open space in terms of nature and provide a better service for the people across the borough. 3. Scope The Council requires the Service Provider to develop and present a revised management model which if approved by the authority, they will implement. The management plan be reviewed annually by the Project Board. The management will cover the period 2017 to April 2020 4. Proposal and Requirements The council requires a service provider with proven expertise both in the field conservation and habitat management (in particular extensive experience in restoration, acid grassland management), community engagement, delivering parks management as well as significant experience of identifying and securing funding to deliver improved visitor experience. of nature heathland traditional additional The successful applicant will need to be able to demonstrate their ability to proceed quickly and with minimal input from the council. The service provider will draft the management plan for the site and once approved by the council they will seek to implement it and deliver targets outlined in the following documents: the adopted management plan, Hounslow Biodiversity Action Plan, Leisure Strategy and any others that the council feels appropriate. The Service Provider should ensure that the proposed revised management model incorporates the following points: - - 1 Focuses on delivering positive active nature conservation and habitat management of the key habitats and species on site such as Lowland Heath and Acid Grassland, Invasive Species as well as others identified in the Hounslow Biodiversity Action Plan1. This will involve presenting a suitable methodology which should involve data collection and annual monitoring of key habitats and species, mapping of habitats and identifying actions within the management plan that will ultimately deliver habitat restoration in particular heathland. Actively recruiting and engaging with volunteers and the local community (Friends of Hounslow Heath and other Parks Groups and other users e.g. The Conservation Volunteers) to deliver nature conservation. Identify proposals to seek and secure further funding to deliver long term habitat restoration on site and park improvements ultimately improving the visitor experience. Deliver traditional parks management this will include managing parks pathways, signage, litter collection etc. Hounslow Biodiversity Action Plan - http://www.hounslow.gov.uk/biodiversity_action_plan_oct13.pdf