Invitation to Tender – Works at Morris’ Bridge Fields, Whixall, Shropshire

June 18, 2020

Marches Mosses BogLIFE Project LIFE15/NAT/UK/000786

Overview of Shropshire Wildlife Trust (the contracting organisation)

Note: Please be aware that links on this page take you to third party websites.

Shropshire Wildlife Trust is a conservation charity established in 1962 to conserve and protect Shropshire’s wildlife. This is achieved by directly conserving wildlife and habitat, undertaking research and reconnecting people with wildlife.

Shropshire Wildlife Trust is a registered charity number 212744 and a company registered in England and Wales, number 729746. Registered Address 193 Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, SY2 6AH. www.shropshirewildlifetrust.org.uk

Project Background

The project site is located south of Morris’ Bridge at Whixall, Shropshire, and comprises a series of fields which have been used for grazing and are located within the floodplain and north and south of the Slacks Bridge Drain.

The land forming the floodplain has a history of sustained flooding over most of the winter period from Slacks Bridge Drain, which passes through the site. Historically this land formed as shallow peat bog at the edge of Whixall Moss and peat soils still remain. This type of marginal habitat has been eliminated from almost all British raised bogs, making this opportunity for restoration of considerable importance.

The site is bounded to the north by the Shropshire Union Canal – Llangollen Branch and to the west by the Ellesmere Canal – Prees Branch. Both canals are elevated with tow paths some 3.0m above the floodplain, preventing overland flow to either the north or the west. High ground to the south and east completes the topography around the floodplain area.

Purpose of the Works

Shropshire Wildlife Trust (SWT) are planning to ensure that shallow surface water conditions can be consistently maintained across parts of the site during the spring and summer periods. This will support the development of wetland vegetation and improve the carbon storage capacity of the site, and at the same time restore marginal habitats around the edge of the lowland raised bog. It is part of a larger project to restore peat bog habitat across Fenn’s, Whixall and Bettisfield Mosses Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and is a partnership project Natural England, Natural Resources Wales and Shropshire Wildlife Trust funded by the European Union and National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Summary of the Work Being Tendered at Morris’ Bridge Fields, which consists of four fields:

NOTE: This is for descriptive purposes only; tendees must use the ITT document which can be found in the link below.

· Stone access to all four fields

· Car park at Field 3

· New pipe and headwalls and Fields 2 & 3

· Excavation of pond at Fields 3 & 4

· Bunding, receptor ponds and associated works

· Protective bunding and associated works along Shropshire Union Canal

· Fencing at all four fields

· Post-construction survey

Timing of ITT responses

All tender responses MUST be returned by email to Dr Alexandros Tsavdaris to alexandros@rabconsultants.co.uk with Ms Jan McKelvey (janm@ShropshireWildlifeTrust.org.uk) copied in. HARD COPIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

Tenders must arrive no later than 13:00 on Monday 13th of July 2020. Tenders received after the latest time for return will be disqualified.

Tender questions can be forwarded to RAB Consultants until the 08th of July 2020 and tender clarifications will be provided until 16:00 on the 10th of July 2020.

Complete ITT Document

Please use this link to access the ITT document.