Replacement of visitor boardwalk at Cors Caron National Nature Reserve

Descriptions

Natural Resources Wales is the new organisation that has taken on the functions of the Countryside Council for Wales, Forestry Commission Wales and the devolved functions of Environment Agency Wales.Natural Resources Wales, for the first time, brings the management of our natural resources and environment together; it enables a more integrated approach to achieving Welsh Government’s objectives and has sustainable development at the heart of its operations, delivering results for the people, environment and economy in Wales.This is an Invitation to quote for the replacement of visitor boardwalk at Cors Caron National Nature ReserveSCOPEIncluded:•Replacement of between 100 & 120 metres of visitor boardwalk at Cors Caron NNR•Stockpiling boardwalk removed at specified location on Cors Caron NNRNot included:•Disposal of removed boardwalk.•Any ongoing maintenance of visitor boardwalkOptional:•Suggested alternatives to the supplied contract specification which offer benefits such as:- lower lifetime costs (per metre of boardwalk per year).- greater sustainability- lower maintenance requirementsBACKGROUND TO THE REQUIREMENTCors Caron NNR covers over 800 ha of predominantly wetland habitats. It is well visited and has an extensive range of visitor facilities including over 2,000 metres of “BT Countryside for All” standard boardwalk.The boardwalk is currently mostly constructed of untreated, naturally durable timber. It is now being replaced on a rolling programme and the specification for the replacement boardwalk must meet the following general criteria:•sustainable materials used in its construction.•as long a life as possible•minimal maintenance requirements•ease of maintenance or alteration if required.•no requirement for a separate grip mesh to be applied to the deck boards•compliance with “BT Countryside for All” and DDA standards and requirements