Sands of LIFE: South Conservation and All Wales Fencing Framework

Descriptions

NRW is seeking to award a framework for the supply of Sands of Life (LIFE 17 NAT/UK/000023): conservation and fencing. The purpose of the requirement is the purchase of works and services to carry out conservation actions in the Sands of LIFE bid. These include rejuvenation works by creating frontal dune notches and re-profiling through turf stripping, mowing, scraping and lowering dune slacks, management of invasive scrub, controlling non-native invasive species and fencing to facilitate grazing. Sand dunes in Wales are rare and threatened, accounting for 11 % (8 101 ha) of the total UK sand dune resource (71 569 ha) and just 0.3 % of the land surface of Wales. Dynamic conditions are vital for maintaining the favourable condition of sand dune habitats and species. However, sand dunes across Europe are currently in a phase of dune stability and lacking dynamic conditions. In the UK all the Annex I sand dune habitats are in unfavourable conservation status, (similarly reflected across the Atlantic Biogeographic Region). Stabilisation of sand dune habitats has not only resulted in unfavourable conservation status, but also the loss or decline of those species which depend upon bare sand and early successional sand dune stages. Restoration of dynamic processes will allow the free movement of sand and the resulting rain of calcareous sand will improve conditions for all Haibtats Directive Annex I sand dune habitats, but specifically for the development and favourable maintenance of priority dune grassland habitat (H2130*). The aim of this project is to achieve favourable conservation status of five habitats directive Annex I habitats and three Annex II species on 10 sites (in four special areas of conservation sites) equating to 2 403 ha (62 %) of Welsh sand dune habitat.