Conservation fencing ITT, ERDF Wild Towns Project

ERDF Wild Towns Project

Thanks to a generous contribution from the European Regional Development Fund and a portfolio of other funders, Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust are leading the ERDF Wild Towns Project in Gloucestershire, along with our partners Severn Trent Water, Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group South West and Severn Rivers Trust.

Wild Towns will create, connect and enhance green spaces for wildlife in 7 towns across Gloucestershire. This project focuses on improving biodiversity in market towns. In each of these highly contested urban environments, the project will deliver improved ecological networks, enhanced green infrastructure, and natural solutions to water management. These outcomes will be delivered through: the creation of biodiverse grasslands; management of woodlands; removal of in river barriers to fish; creating refuges for key species; and the creation of pond networks.

The project will achieve broad coverage across Gloucestershire. In the Stroud District interventions will take place along the Nailsworth to Stonehouse corridor. In the Forest of Dean, the project will focus around Cinderford and in the Cotswolds, projects will take place in Cirencester, Fairford, Tetbury and Moreton-in-Marsh.

This conservation fencing contract will allow light grazing by ponies, cattle or sheep in three strategic areas of Cinderford in the Forest of Dean, in order to improve the quality of the land for key species such as reptiles and small pearl bordered fritillary butterflies.

Please see the attached Invitation to Tender for specific details of the work and send expressions of interest and then completed forms via email to will.masefield@gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk.