Quote for supply of Sustaining the Gwent Levels review

Tender description

The Sustaining the Gwent Levels (SGL) was a collaborative project that involved farmers, staff from RSPB Cymru and the Living Levels Landscape Partnership (LLLP), Farming Connect and Goldcliff Ringing Group.The project worked closely with farmers and other local partners to develop the understanding, knowledge, skills and experience needed to deliver the sustainable management of natural resources within the Gwent Levels. It created a positive environment in which the Living Levels Landscape Partnership, farmers and landowners worked together to meet challenges collaboratively and adaptively during and beyond the lifetime of the initiative.It succeeded in developing and demonstrating land management that:• restores and protects nature, with a focus on SSSIs, pollinators, key bird species and traditional orchards.• addresses natural resource issues.• secures public goods for society as well as producing sustainable amounts of high-quality food and other commodities.Living Levels seeks to build on the successful outputs and outcomes of Sustaining the Gwent Levels through a new Heritage Lottery funded programme.The specific aims of this project are:• To facilitate the formation of a farmer-led network for farmers and other landowners interested in improving their land for wildlife.• To provide training and support for participants.• To encourage reen management, orchard restoration and replanting, and meadow management and creation through a capital works programme, and to share other examples of best practice.• To encourage the adoption of less intensive farming practices, where possible.• To institute biodiversity and carbon auditing programmes using local volunteers, educational institutions, and paid contractors. Data gathered will be used to better inform management decisions.To fully engage with the farming community, this project should not be seen as something which is imposed from outside, but that it is inspired and led by farmers. We will therefore seek to identify those individuals who might take a leading role in promoting sustainable and nature-friendly farming.We are seeking an experienced consultant to review the previous SGL project, lead a series of consultation workshops with farmers, provide recommendations for supporting projects in the Delivery phase of our programme, and help establish a farmer-led Levels Farming Network.Services• To produce a report reviewing the outputs and outcomes of the Sustaining the Gwent Levels project.• To produce a list of recommendations for developing our work with farmers and landowners in accordance with the stated aims in the Living Levels Management Plan.• To conduct a series of workshops with farmers and landowners to better understand their views and needs.• To facilitate the creation of a farmer-led Levels Farmers Network.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=147482.The buyer has indicated that it will accept electronic responses to this notice via the Postbox facility. A user guide is available at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx.Suppliers are advised to allow adequate time for uploading documents and to dispatch the electronic response well in advance of the closing time to avoid any last minute problems. (WA Ref:147482)The buyer considers that this contract is suitable for consortia bidding.