Landscaping – tree planting

Background InformationThe Future Farms partnership is building three rural enterprise dwellings on LA-farm estate on the edge of the village of Sarn, Newtown. Three new horticulture enterprises will be operating from the site from early 2025. The plan for the 38acre site includes a communal area of 5.6acres which is set aside for biodiversity improvements.As part of the process to attain planning permission for the dwellings, packing shed and associated services, we submitted a detailed landscaping plan that we are required to work towards delivering.We have secured funding via Powys County Councils Local Places for Nature Fund to achieve the landscaping elements of the site.This includes the sourcing, purchase and installation of:• Local provenance hedging, correctly demarcating the smaller growing plots, conserving/restoring existing hedging/shelterbelts and creating some river margin riparian buffer zones.• Specific and innovative composting equipment (this is for humanure in the main).• Local provenance fruit and nut trees, trees and bushes to establish small scale food forest farming.• Local provenance wildflower meadow turf for the edges / around trees.• Benches / shelters / fences at entrance / viewpoints / areas for local residents and visitors to enjoy the site• Tool Storage unit, to include secure base & fixings.• Pond & swale creation with some rainwater harvesting goods to enable water to move and be used across the site.• Some basic hand tools & equipment.We hope to work with local residents, including the new growers, and representatives from the Future Farm partnership and local Wildlife Trust(s) to carry out some of this activity.Description of Required ServicesWe are looking for a landscaping contractor(s) to deliver aspects of the work that require specialist skills and equipment, but also one that will work with the partnership and members of the community for things like the habitat creation elements and tree planting.Bidders should familiarise themselves with the attached documents:1. Landscaping plan including planting schedule & management plan, approved as part of the planning permission and the biodiversity plan.2. Drainage Strategy for the site.3. Overall site master plan / drawing.We are committed to a “regenerate nature” principle this includes a compost and no-waste focus.  Local provenance is vital for both fruit and veg and hedge/tree/flower planting.The site is ‘Land to the North of Wern Lane, Sarn’, centred at grid coordinates X: 321420, Y: 290910, with sides of the land close to the A489 between Kerry and Churchstoke and Wern Lane.We have split the overall contract into three Lots, where those wishing to tender can tender for each or all of the Lots. We will require a detailed breakdown of the work that can be delivered within each of the Lots and a clear price for each. We reserve the right to remove some lines of works from the contract(s) awarded if we can’t afford to include them all, or can provide replacements for them via other means.Lot 1 – GroundworksPond creation (we wish to create a large water harvesting pond that can serve as both a wildlife habit and a water irrigation source, we hope due to the soil make up this would work without the need to be lined, so quotes should be for ground works in the main for this).A number of swales are designed in to help retain surface water run-off on site.Small runs of stock fencing (50 linear metres) and 4 No. gate posts to provide a barrier from the remaining hedges, back to a gateway on the site from the highways crossover points.Lot 2 – PlantingsSourcing and assistance to plant, to include appropriate tree / sapling tree protection:• An area of coppice woodland• A fruit (Minium 25 trees) and nut (20 trees) orchard, including top fruit and fruit bushes (20).• A rivers edge riparian tree planted buffer zone (using a mix of native tree saplings suitable for damp ground i.e. alder, willow and hazel)• Landscaping standard trees as detailed in the landscaping plan & schedule• Wildflower turf, matting or seeds to provide pollination opportunities across the communal area.• Small distances of hedgerow re-instatement for the highways crossovers.Lot 3 – Structures and associated equipment• Composting facilities for humanure – (4 wheelie bins) and a screening / shelter for them.• Benches, (up to 6 No) these can be a mix of purchased and made, however they need to be long lasting and robust in construction.• Building / provision of shelter for 3 of the above, i.e. could be trellis and plantings or a more solid structure• Small equipment storage ‘container’ to be weather-proof and secure, including any ground fixings or base required.• Rainwater harvesting / irrigation pump (supply of one submersible pump such as https://www.waterpump.co.uk/extrema-400-11-pro-submersible-dirty-water-pump ) capable of high flow rate, and able to deal with some particles.Criteria we will be assessing against include:- Experience of delivering similar scale landscaping projects.- Capacity to carry out the majority of the works before end Feb 2025, and completion by end of March 2025.- Willingness to work alongside other contractors on site undertaking the build of the dwellings, packing shed and associated groundworks.- Relevant licences & insurance cover.- Preference will be given to local supply chains and environmental sustainability of products.- Understanding of local growing conditions and sourcing suitable trees to match the conditions.