Tenders are being sought from contractors and partners for the River Axe Landscape Recovery Project.

Operating one of the 22 Landscape Recovery projects in England, the Upper Axe CIC seeks to appoint contractors and partners to work with over the next two years, and potentially beyond.

The project is a diverse partnership of 24 farmers and landowners, accounting for 2,000 hectares in the Upper Axe catchment. The aim is to work alongside farmers to find ways to improve the habitat value and water quality of the Axe and its upper tributaries.

The project has a two year development phase (2023 and 2024), followed by an implementation phase lasting at least 20 years.

Tenders are being sought for:

Subcontracted Ecological / Farm Advisory service

  • Working with the landowners and farmers involved across the Project Area to develop individual farm management plans, with input from specialists of multiple disciplines within the Defra family and the consultant team.
  • Integrating the farm management plans, together with the project manager and the consultant team, into an overall project land management masterplan.
  • Feeding in to financial, contractual and risk management plans to ensure these are robust and suitable for the partners and the realisation of the project aims.
  • Supporting project partnership group meetings and workshops to ensure the partners are well aligned, sharing learning and maintaining momentum across the partnership.
  • Reporting to the board of directors and attending board meetings as required.
  • Supporting the delivery of the community engagement plan.
  • Taking part in landscape recovery programme learning opportunities.

While open to suggestions, but as a guide, it is anticipated that tenders will include:

  • A senior manager working part time on the project to ensure quality of delivery
  • 30-37.5 hours per week of project work until the end of 2024

Office accommodation for the project worker can be provided on request.

Further information can be found at Landscape Recovery in the Upper Axe (magdalenfarm.org.uk)

Tenders should be sent to info@upperaxe.org.uk by February 16 (midnight) specifying how you will meet this specification, proposed staffing details, price and track record.