South Cambridgeshire District Council - Ecological Enhancement of South Cambridgeshire District Coun...

Being ‘green to our core’ has been one of the Council’s key priorities since 2018. We declared climate and ecological emergencies in 2019 and have published strategies followed by a combined action plan to address these. Our Doubling nature Strategy published in 2021, states that we will be an exemplar to others on our own estate through tree planting and nature enhancing measures.

To help deliver that ambition, SCDC are seeking a suitably qualified ecologist to provide advice on biodiversity enhancement and management, on areas of council owned land adjacent to SCDC Housing estates. We have identified 22 sites that may be suitable for biodiversity enhancement. These areas are typically small parcels of land (ranging from 160-3000 m2 approximately), generally laid to grass but include other features such as mature trees, ponds, and adjacent watercourses.

We are seeking the below deliverable outcomes:
1. A review of the 22 potential sites based on their potential for ecological enhancements leading to the selection of 5 to 6 sites that offer the most potential. This may require visits to sites.

2. A report which would:
- provide a brief description of each of the sites including an indication of their current biodiversity value and potential for enhancement
- identify the 5-6 sites with best potential for enhancement, and suggest biodiversity enhancements relevant to each of these sites
- set out simple plans for the implementation of the improvements at each of these ‘best’ sites
- establish a simple plan for the ongoing management of each of the ‘best’ sites (to be carried out by SCDC’s landscape maintenance contractor)

We are looking to receive the completed report as soon as possible and by 04/08/2023 at the latest.
Our budget for this work is £3-5,000.