Request for Tenders - PEAT+ Ballynahone Bog Invasive species removal - Peaceplus funded

Ulster Wildlife wishes to procure suitably qualified contractors to deliver Invasives removal on Ballynahone Bog SAC (as set out in the RFT) to be supplied and delivered as set out in Schedule 1 of the RFQ. This project is delivered under PEAT+, a cross-border peatland restoration project led by Ulster Wildlife. PEAT+ is a project supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). Various techniques will be implemented to treat, remove and retreat 6.1 ha rhododendron and cherry laurel over 3 phases and 2.ha hectares of scrub removal (as detailed in RFT) Operators will be expected to observe closely the conditions of work outlined in this tender and its attachments to ensure there is minimum disturbance to priority habitats and species. The successful contractor will be provided with a mapping app to be used on a smart phone which will show the location of all interventions along with their own location when out on site. A mandatory site visit is included as part of this procurement process. Rhododendron and cherry laurel are vigorous evergreen species that are difficult to control once established. They suppress sphagnum mosses and other specialist bog vegetation through shading and competition, reducing peat-forming vegetation and affecting natural ecosystem function. As they mature, these species can further contribute to drying and create conditions that favour continued encroachment, reinforcing a cycle of habitat degradation. Conifers and broadleaved scrub can have similar effects by drawing down the water table and promoting further drying. If left unmanaged, this negative feedback loop can progressively degrade active raised bog and, over time, contribute to a transition towards wet woodland. Removing these pressures will help support a higher, more stable water table and create more favourable conditions for priority bog vegetation, peat formation and long-term habitat recovery. Ulster Wildlife aims to carry out a number of restoration actions on Ballynahone Bog in the near future but before that, the invading Rhododendron, Cherry Laurel and Scrub need controlled to prevent them from dominating the woodland on the bog edge and encroaching onto the high bog.