Tender for Ditch Blocking and Re-profiling at Foel Boeth, Parc, Y Bala, Gwynedd (SH832 340)

REF - 3/NC/056/FoelBoeth

Contents: A. Specification of works A1. Background to project A2 Location of work site A3. Purpose of work A4. Description of work A5 Methodology and method statement A6. Contract period A7. Access arrangements A8. Site specific hazards

B. General contract conditions B1. Tendering and contract management B2. Site management B3. Site safety: safety of third parties B4. Site safety: safety of workforce B5. Site safety: environmental safeguards

C. Site maps and photographs

Appendix 1 – NRW ‘Welfare Standard For Those Working On NRW Managed Land ’ Appendix 2 – Forestry Commission ‘Managing Forest Operations To Protect The Water Environment’ Appendix 3 – NRW ‘First Aid Standard for those working on the Welsh Government Woodland Estate’ Appendix 4 – Foel Boeth Map of Ditches to be Blocked (attached) Appendix 5 – Foel Boeth 2009 Aerial Photograph (attached)

A Specification of works

A1: Background to project

This procurement project is an opportunity for Contractors to tender for the works described below. The work is subject to the neighbour at Trawscoed Farm providing formal access permission to the work site, SSSI assent being approved by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) in a timely manner, and the necessary associated pre-commencement documentation being provided by the successful Contractor. Following scoring of the tenders, the successful and most acceptable tender will then become a contract between the successful Contractor and the Snowdonia National Park Authority. Contact [email protected] for electronic copies of Appendices 1, 2 & 3.

This contract is to block and re-profile 25.728km of ditches within an area of ~15ha of open mountain land (a former checked conifer plantation that was felled to waste in ~2008-2009) that is managed by NRW at Foel Boeth, Parc, Y Bala, Gwynedd (Ordnance Survey grid reference SH832 340). See 1 Figure 1 in Section C for the Location Map and permissive access route, and Figure 2 (& Appendix 4) for a map of the works required. All boundaries are well fenced. A stock-proof fence is the boundary between Trawscoed Farm and NRW Foel Boeth (part of the ‘Lordship’ Forest Block). A small part of this fence will need to be temporarily taken down to allow excavator access to Foel Boeth from Trawscoed. The fence will need to be restored to its original stock-proof condition as soon as the work is completed. The point of entry to Foel Boeth from Trawscoed should remain stock-proof during the time period in between excavators entering and exiting the site upon completion. The peatland is to be restored and is not proposed for re-stocking with trees. The peatland was originally intensively ditched and planted with conifers at some point during the 1980’s. Many of the felled trees were significantly checked due to the wet ground conditions. The trees were felled to waste and snedded, and the cut material squeezed into the ditches in ~2008-2009. Regenerating volunteer sitka spruce and lodgepole pine trees were given the same treatment in winter 2019-2020 and the work site is now clear of trees (other than a few occasional broadleaves such as willow in wetter parts). A good number of the drains and furrows on the site (perhaps less than half?) were blocked with peat dams installed every 10 metres or so with excavators in ~2009 (see Figure 3 & Appendix 5). It appears that no cross drains were blocked. Due to access, breeding bird and funding constraints, the ditch blocking and re-profiling work must be completed by 31st March 2021, and invoiced by the 31st March 2021. All Contractors wishing to tender for this work should only do so if they are confident that they have the capacity to undertake the work within this timetable. The site is within the Migneint-Arenig-Dduallt Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), the Migneint-Arenig- Dduallt Special Protection Area (SPA) and the Migneint-Arenig-Dduallt Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Restoration of the peatland at Foel Boeth will move the Migneint-Arenig-Dduallt designated sites closer towards Favourable Conservation Status, and move Wales closer to Ministerial and Welsh Government targets to restore degraded deep peatland sites. Access permission to work on the land at Foel Boeth has been discussed with relevant NRW staff. Formal access permission to work on the Foel Boeth work site (part of the Welsh Government woodland estate) has been issued by NRW on 6th January 2021. SSSI ‘assent’ is expected to be issued by NRW by the end of January 2021.

This contract is subject to the neighbouring landowner at Trawscoed Farm providing formal access permission to Foel Boeth (permission has been given verbally in principle). This contract is also subject to all the necessary associated pre-commencement documentation (e.g. Welfare Assessment, Risk Assessment, Emergency Plan, Method Statement, and certificates of competence) being provided by the Contractor in a timely manner.

A2: Location of work site

The Site is approximately 4.5km west of the village of Parc, near Y Bala, Gwynedd. The Site is at Ordnance Survey grid reference SH832 340, at an altitude of approximately 500 metres. Access by excavators from NRW forest roads is currently not physically possible as there are no internal forest roads or rides to the Foel Boeth work site, and the ground to access the site internally from within the NRW managed estate is too rough, boulder strewn and afforested. There is one obvious and feasible access route for excavators to the site, which involves crossing a neighbour’s land from Trawscoed Farm. See Section A7 below for access arrangements, and Figure 1 in Section C for the Location Map that also shows the identified outline permissive access route (subject to a separate agreement/consent that SNPA are currently formalising with the landowner).

The area for ditch blocking and ditch re-profiling lies on the most north-westerly part of the Foel Boeth forest block – see Figure 2 in Section C & Appendix 4. This is an area of predominantly deep peatland (≥0.5 metres), most of which is on gently-moderately sloping land.

A3. Purpose of work

The purpose of the work is to complete the blocking (and undertake re-profiling) of the ditches on the site in order to enable full hydrological restoration of the peatland. This will further promote re- generation of the nutrient-poor open ground vegetation and wet habitats (blanket bog and wet heath) that prevailed on the site before it was largely drained and planted with conifers in the 1980’s. 2 Hydrological restoration of previously-drained and degraded peatlands is a crucial intervention in order to restore peatland conditions to those in which peat can accumulate once more.

Ditch blocking and re-profiling, when done sensitively, could also remove obstacles to subsequent management. Examples are the facilitation of grazing in the longer term - reducing the frequency and facilitation of the ability to control potential invasive non-native species (e.g. sitka spruce, lodgepole pine and Rhododendron ponticum) infestations in the future. Light summer grazing would also result in the inhibition of the establishment of native broadleaves (e.g. birch) which can dry peatlands. Some of the deep pools behind some of the drains that were blocked or partially blocked in 2009 make future grazing management of the site by stock hazardous and therefore highly unlikely. See Figure 3 (& Appendix 5) for a rough idea of the areas where ditches were blocked every ~10 metres with peat dams (dark pools of water are visible behind many of the dams) on parts of the site in ~2009.

The work is consistent with the objectives of the Countryside Council for Wales’ (qua Natural Resources Wales, formed on 1st April 2013) Core Management Plan for Migneint-Arenig-Dduallt SAC.

A4. Description of work

The total Foel Boeth work site area ear-marked for ditch blocking and re-profiling as part of peatland restoration is approximately 15ha in size (a total ditch length of 25.728km).

Table 1 below shows the area size of the Restoration Zone.

Table 1

Restoration Zone Area (ha) Ditch blocking and re-profiling 15 ha TOTAL 15 ha

See Photographs 1-5 in Section C for a better idea of the current appearance of the site and the approach to the site from Trawscoed.

A5. Methodology and method statement

General 5.1 Operations will be carried out during February 2021 – March 2021. 5.2 Protection of the environment is paramount. Any small areas around the lower edges of the site that are too wet and boggy to access with tracked excavators should be left well alone. 5.3 Working methods will follow current best practice as summarised in the Guidance for Pollution Prevention (GPP) series found at https://www.netregs.org.uk/environmental-topics/pollution- prevention-guidelines-ppgs-and-replacement-series/guidance-for-pollution-prevention-gpps-full-list/ and the UK Forestry Standard Guidelines, Forestry Commission (2017). Note in particular the need to protect peat and watercourses. Measures should be taken to reduce the risk of downstream pollution by discoloured peaty water, sediment, oils etc. Suitably installed straw bale dams and geotextile filters immediately below works may be appropriate. Oil spill kits must be available throughout the duration of the works and the appropriate biodegradable hydraulic oils/lubricants used. Refuelling and fuel storage should not take place within the SSSI other than on the stone track/borrow pit/turning area (at SH83438 33133). Fuels and oils stored on the stone track and borrow pit/turning area will be in locked bunds. Advice can be provided by the SNPA Supervisory Officer. 5.4 Machine operators should walk up to the work site at the beginning of each day from the end of the stone track from Trawscoed Farm, and walk back down to return. Unnecessary repeated tracking to and from the work site (e.g. with quad bike), resulting in peat compaction, damage to surface vegetation and exposure of the underlying peat will be avoided.

3 5.5 Tracked excavators with modified tracks will be needed to prevent the tracks falling off when travelling and working on top of cut tree stumps at Foel Boeth. Conventional unmodified tracks will not be permitted. 5.6 Any ground damage through use of machinery should be rectified before leaving the site. 5.7 The Contractor will need to supply a detailed method statement with the tender stating which vehicles (including how many) and which methods will be used on which parts of the site (including re-profiling of ditch sides), and how the site will be accessed. This method statement will include Reasonable Avoidance Measures to avoid erosion of peat and pollution of watercourses, and forms part of the scoring criteria (see Section B1.9 below).

Specification 1 - Ditch blocking

 Ditch blocking will be carried out by a low impact and low ground pressure (<3 psi) excavator(s) in order to prevent damage to the habitat and protect the features of the site. The wider the tracks, the better.  Excavator buckets should be toothed in order to make tearing and re-laying of turves more effective and minimise the amount of un-vegetated bare ground on site at the end of the job to the absolute minimum.  In all cases, peat dams should be used, and lengths between dams to be re-profiled will be between 5 and 10m depending on the terrain. As most of this area has a gentle-moderate gradient overall it is envisaged that for the majority of the area the peat dams will be approximately 7-10m apart, but no further apart than 10m apart.  Ditches will be blocked with peat dams using the following method:  Before the dam is built – the vegetation at the dam location, on the edge of the drain should be removed in thick turfs.  If necessary a short (2m) section of the drain should be dug out and re-profiled to key in the peat at the sides of the drain. Care being taken not to remove the peat at the base of the drain and exposing underlying mineral soil. Given the gentle-moderate slope and relatively narrow nature of a few of the current drains it is not envisaged this will be necessary at some locations.  A shallow borrow pit, next to the drain, may be required to assist in sourcing undamaged peat to construct the dam. Remove vegetation, extract the required peat, re-grade the pit and replace the vegetation on top. Upon completion there should be nothing visible but a very shallow depression. No bare peat should be visible upon completion.  This peat should be pushed firmly into the drain with a shallow, sloping edge to create the dam and the original vegetation laid on top of the dam. Pooling of water behind each dam (which is sometimes encouraged for breeding wading birds) is not a finish that is required or particularly desirable at this site.  The height of the dam should be slightly raised (0.5m) to exceed the height of the surrounding ground surface to prevent water over-spilling and to allow for settling. A spillway should be created, where appropriate, to allow the water to flow sideways from the drain and out and down onto surrounding bog-land rather than around the dam and back into the drain. The spillway is not required on drains angled at 90° to the slope.  The excavated area should be no more than 2m in diameter and have shallow slopes (so that animals such as sheep cannot get trapped). Any open water and depth should be kept to a minimum, no deeper than 1ft, if deeper it should be re-profiled and filled with turf. The area should not present any hazard to grazing livestock in future. If there is any doubt, the Contractor should contact the SNPA Supervisory Officer.  The water held back by one dam should reach the foot of the next dam upstream.  The peat soil must be sufficiently compacted so as to ensure no channels or pipes remain below the surface once work is completed.

4  The Contractor will need to use a GPS to mark the location of each peat dam. A GPS can be provided by the Snowdonia National Park Authority if necessary, with ditch locations pre- loaded onto the GPS unit.  Vehicular access is to be reduced to a minimum necessary to undertake the work.  A 3m buffer will be maintained from the Afon Dylo.  Nature of work needed on each ditch does vary within the site.  Ditches that have previously been blocked with peat dams ≤10m apart that are still intact and functioning well will generally not need to have more dams installed. However, the lengths between all previously installed and functioning dams should be re-profiled so as not to present any potential hazard to grazing livestock in future.  No bare peat should be left on any dam, surrounding any ditch or on any other part of the work site or access track. Any damage to the access route is to be made good by the Contractor before completing the work.  All fuels or flammable substances, which are to remain at the Delivery Site (location to be decided) while the Works are not being undertaken, must be adequately secured to prevent unplanned fires and spills.  No other watercourses flowing into, through or out of the peatland area will be altered or affected in any way.  During ditch blocking works we suggest that the successful Contractor may want to work from the top down so that the machine works on drier areas of drains as work passes downhill.

Specification 2 - Re-profiling ditch (drain) sides

The sides of all drains are to be re-profiled, using the following method:  Peat dams should be installed, as per the method described under ‘Ditch blocking’ above.  Between each dam, the vegetation along both sides of the drain should be pulled back to expose peat, without tearing the turf.  The underlying peat should then be re-profiled to form a very shallow slope on each side of the drain no greater than 30º, so that at worst there is a newly formed, shallow dip where the drain was. The sides of each drain between each dam should be re-profiled to a very shallow ‘V’ shape at worst in order to allow future safe passage for livestock across the area. The best scenario is that the top of the filled-in drains are level with the surrounding vegetation.  Re-profiled drains sides at worst should have shallow slopes upon completion (so that animals such as sheep cannot get trapped). Any open water and depth should be kept to a minimum, no deeper than 1ft.  The vegetation should be replaced, covering the bare peat, ensuring no peat remains exposed.

Where conifer stumps and root plates are very close to drains re-profiling might not be possible.

A6. Contract period

It is envisaged that the work will be done during the period February to March 2021. The work must be completed by 31st March 2021 and invoiced by 31st March 2021. The invoicing deadline is a critical requirement of the funding that SNPA have been offered by Natural Resources Wales to undertake this work.

5 A7. Access arrangements

Access to the Site should only be between the hours of 07:00 – 19:00hrs. This is because temporary permissive access is required through a neighbouring farmer’s farm-yard and fields. There is one possible vehicular access route to the site, which has only become available due to the kind co- operation of the neighbouring farmer at Trawscoed Farm. See Figure 1 in Section C of this document for a map of the temporary permissive access route through Trawscoed Farm to the point of entry into Foel Boeth. This permissive access is subject to a separate agreement/consent that SNPA are currently formalising with the landowner.

In order to reduce any damage to the neighbouring farmer’s land, the only vehicular access to the Foel Boeth site should be by up to three 7-8 tonne metal-tracked excavators on their way into the work site at the start of the job, and returning out of the work site upon completion of the job. Daily access by machine operators should be on foot from the end of Trawscoed Farm’s track (a ~20 minute walk uphill to the work site) – see Section A5.4 above. The neighbouring farmer’s land at Trawscoed over which access has been kindly granted in principle (specifically for this work) is across land (including some peatland) also designated as SSSI, and damage will not be permitted.

Access is to be reduced to the minimum necessary to undertake the works. Unnecessary tracking to and fro, resulting in peat compaction, damage to surface vegetation and exposure of the underlying peat will be avoided.  Any damage to the permissive access route, gates, fences etc. will need repair by the Contractor before the end of works.  All plant and machinery taken to the site must be clean (ideally pressure-washed) prior to deployment on site. This is to prevent the risk of the spread of non-native plant or fungi to the site.

There are no Public Rights of Way across the Site. The Site is designated as ‘open access’ land under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

Contractors should be aware that other works could be taking place concurrently at Foel Boeth (e.g. surveying), but this is unlikely.

A8. Site specific hazards

It is the Contractor’s responsibility to assess risks and hazards at the Site. A Site Specific Risk Assessment, an Emergency Plan and a Welfare Assessment will need to be prepared by the successful Contractor and submitted to the SNPA before works can commence on site. The following must be considered and documented:  Undulating terrain.  Steep terrain.  Other operations that may take place on site at the same time e.g. surveying, although unlikely.  Areas of bog with deep peat.  Isolated site with very limited vehicular access (and not an easy site for Emergency Services to access).  Mobile phone reception might only be available from some networks over parts of the Site, if at all – although Vodafone reception is usually quite good across most of the upper parts of the work site (but not on lower parts of the work site).  The need ‘so far as is reasonably practicable’ for a Welfare Unit as per FISA Guidelines (see https://ukfisa.com/Safety/Safety-Guides/fisa-806 - with links to an editable Welfare Provision form) and the NRW ‘Welfare Standard For Those Working On NRW Managed Land ’ document (Appendix 1).  The risk of polluting the environment and nearby watercourses – e.g. see Forestry Commission ‘Managing Forest Operations To Protect The Water Environment’ document (Appendix 2).

6 B. General contract conditions B1: Tendering and contract management

B1.1. Contract price: Tenders are invited from Contractors to deliver the works described above. The price shall include all aspects of delivering the work including labour, tools, equipment, fuel, welfare arrangements, safety equipment and producing the relevant pre-commencement paperwork.

B1.2. Method statement: The tender will include a detailed method statement detailing which methods will be employed for which individual area(s) and a timetable. This statement, amended if necessary by mutual agreement of SNPA and the Contractor, will form an integral part of this contract. The method statement forms part of the scoring criteria (see Section B1.9 below).

B1.3. Extent of work: The Contractor must visit the site before tendering for the work and satisfy himself/herself as to the full extent and character of the work. Please phone or email Dafydd Roberts (07900 267515 & [email protected]) who will liaise with the neighbouring landowner to arrange permissive access through Trawscoed farm for tendering purposes. Any measurements provided by SNPA are provided for guidance only. Measurements relating to area are given in planar measure. The actual area on the ground can be somewhat greater due to undulating terrain.

B1.4. Day rate for additional works: Some minor work on the site may be added to this contract. This would be available to the Contractor and will be negotiated on a day rate. A day rate (based on an operator and an excavator operating for a minimum of 8 hours/day, excluding travelling time) should be quoted with the main Tender. Other costs will be added to this figure where appropriate.

B1.5. Payment by results Payment will be made following successful completion of the work as described above and in the agreed pre- commencement method statement and risk assessment. The invoice should be submitted by 31st March 2021 at the latest, and preferably before the end of March 2021.

B1.6. Non-Completion or failure to adhere to contract conditions Should the Contractor fail to execute the work, or deliver any portion thereof, within the terms and timescale specified in this contract, the SNPA, without prejudice to any other remedy for Breach of Contract, shall be at liberty to terminate the contract, either wholly or in part and to provide for the execution of the work by other means in order to make good such default.

The SNPA shall be entitled to cancel the contract and recover from the Contractor the amount of any loss resulting from such cancellation if the Contractor shall have offered or given any person any gift or consideration during the execution of this or any other contract with the SNPA, or if the like acts shall have been done by any person employed by him or acting on his behalf (whether with or without the knowledge of the Contractor), or if in relation to any contract with the SNPA the Contractor shall have committed an offence under the Prevention of Corruption Acts 1889 and 1916, or shall have given any fee or reward the recipients of which is an offence under subsection (2) of section 117 of the local Government Act 1972.

B1.7. Arbitration Any dispute arising between the SNPA and the Contractor may be referred for arbitration to a person or organisation agreed by both parties. The decision of arbitration shall be binding on both parties. The contract and its interpretation shall be applied under Welsh Law.

B1.8. Variations During the period of the contract the SNPA may introduce variation orders. These will be numbered, written orders signed by the SNPA Supervisory Officer and the Contractors. Any charging by the Contractor for works additional to the fixed price must quote the variation order number. The cost of any works carried out without the authority of the Supervisory Officer will not be met by the SNPA.

B1.9. Criteria for acceptance of tender The most acceptable tender will be chosen on a 50% qualitative basis and on a 50% quantitative basis and will be weighted as follows:

7 Requirement Weighting 1 Portfolio of the Contractor’s previous experience in fulfilling similar projects (including 10% environmental and safety record), to an excellent standard, within budget and to deadline. Contractors who have not worked regularly for SNPA in the past may also wish to provide references from other organisations. 2 SNPA’s judgement of the ability of the Contractor to complete the work in the required time. 10% 3 Approach and methodology of the team as set out in the Contractor’s method statement. 30% 4 Price 50%

It is essential that every Contractor who submits a tender provides the following accompanying information:  Details of experience of similar previous work, to include ditch blocking in previously clear-felled areas  Method statement  Details of insurance  Competency certificates of all operators, including current Forestry First Aid qualifications (e.g. FAW+F). It is a requirement of NRW’s UKWAS (UK Woodland Assurance Scheme) certification that a minimum of two operators on the work site have Forestry First Aid certification, irrespective of whether they are using chainsaws or not.  Technical qualifications and details of relevant experience of all personnel expected to carry out management and delivery of this contract, and their proposed areas of responsibility.

Tenders from Contractors who are not available to undertake the work in the period February – March 2021 will be excluded.

B1.10. Submission procedure and deadline All tenders to be sent in a sealed, anonymous envelope marked “Do not open – Foel Boeth Tender Enclosed” to:

Dafydd Roberts Senior Ecologist Awdurdod Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri/Snowdonia National Park Authority Swyddfa’r Parc Penrhyndeudraeth Gwynedd LL48 6LF

Tenders must be received before Midday Wednesday 3rd February 2021. Tenders received after this time will be rejected.

SNPA will endeavour to inform the successful Contractor in writing within 5 days of this submission deadline.

B2: Site Management

B2.1. Supervisory Officer: The Supervisory Officer for this contract will be Dafydd Roberts or other officer or representative as may be appointed by SNPA. In the case of a change of Supervisory Officer, SNPA will inform the Contractor in writing.

B2.2. Contract Supervision: The Contractor will be responsible for planning, management and supervision of the work.

B2.3. Contractor’s Site Works Manager: The Contractor will appoint a Site Works Manager who will either be present in person or will nominate and keep on site a competent person in charge to undertake this role at all reasonable times. Any instructions given to this person will have been deemed to have been given to the Contractor.

B2.4. Subcontractors Subcontractors shall only be permitted where their appointment is agreed in writing with the Supervisory Officer prior to work commencing. Subcontractors will be bound by any conditions applying to the main Contractor and all instruction given to the main Contractor, or other conditions applied by the Supervisory Officer. The main Contractor shall be responsible for the supervision of work and safety of any subcontractor. Any dispute arising between the Contractor and subcontractors shall be resolved by them to the satisfaction of the SNPA but is not a matter directly for the SNPA.

B2.5. Working Times 8 Work may be carried out during any day of the week, unless otherwise specified, but only between the hours of 07:00 – 19:00hrs (see A7 above). Any time lost due to inclement weather shall be the responsibility of the Contractor. Any extension to the contract for time lost due to inclement weather must be agreed in writing with the Supervisory Officer. Any extension will only be granted in the unlikely event that the funding provider agree to an extension.

B3. Site Safety: Safety of Third Parties

B3.1 Any pedestrian approaches to and across the site to be kept clear of obstructions, throughout the execution of the works. The Contractor shall make good and pay for the reinstatement of any damage however caused and shall indemnify the SNPA against any claims for any consequential loss. The SNPA shall not be liable for any damage disruption or injury arising from the Contractor’s operation on the site, however caused.

B3.2 Public warning: Where there is the potential for public access, the Contractor shall supply and erect warning notices to the public, of the potential hazards caused by the works.

B3.3 Insurance: The Contractor shall satisfy the SNPA that during the whole period of the contract they are covered by insurance in respect of liability for injury of persons, animal, the landowner, or any third party for a sum not less than £5,000,000.00. In the case of a Contractor employing staff, then the Contractor is required to produce evidence of a minimum of £10M Employer’s Liability Insurance being in place.

B4 Site Safety: Safety of Workforce

B4.1 Contractor’s Health and Safety policy: The Contractor shall carry out all work in a safe manner, and have due regard for the health of their staff. All works must be carried out according to Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) and subsequent regulations and Codes of Practice. The Contractor must lodge with the SNPA a copy of their current Health and Safety policy, a copy of arrangements for the implementation of safe working, and a copy of site working rules and similar guidance applying to their staff working on this contract. The Contractor’s policy arrangements and site working rules must meet the standards of the SNPA. This information is to be supplied prior to commencement of contract works. Where ground conditions are uneven caution must be taken when traversing the site. All machinery (e.g. excavators) should be fitted with the appropriate safety structures including ROPS (Roll Over Protection System), OPS (Operator Protection System) and FOPS (Falling Object Protection System) where required by health and safety legislation.

B4.2 Safety Officer: The Contractor’s Site Work Manager (or other appointed person) shall be the safety officer for the contract and shall be the first point of contact between the SNPA and the Contractor, regarding site working rules, and other health and safety matters on site. This person must be competent to oversee safety matters on site and liaise with the SNPA Supervisory Officer to ensure safe working.

B4.3 Risk assessment: The Contractor will prepare a detailed risk assessment (as required by Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulation 1992) that addresses both the generic and site specific risks of the work involved in this contract. Contractors should also be aware of the nearest casualty unit and doctor to the site and this information should be included with the written risk assessment. This risk assessment will be supplied to the Supervisory Officer by the successful Contractor, and needs to be agreed with SNPA prior to commencement of work.

B4.4 Emergency Planning: A site specific Emergency Plan (as per the editable version at https://ukfisa.com/Safety/Safety-Guides/fisa-802) will need to be produced by the successful Contractor before works commence.

B4.5 Welfare Assessment: It is a requirement of the Law and NRW’s UKWAS certification that a Welfare Assessment is prepared by the successful Contractor prior to commencing work. The need ‘so far as is reasonably practicable’ for a Welfare Unit as per FISA Guidelines (see editable version at https://ukfisa.com/Safety/Safety-Guides/fisa-806) and the NRW ‘Welfare Standard For Those Working On NRW Managed Land ’ (see Appendix 1) needs to be considered and documented. NRW have indicated (Dylan Roberts, NRW Senior Officer Forest Operations North-West, pers comm 7th August 2020) that at a remote location (such as Foel Boeth) a cassette-type toilet within a tent would be acceptable for up to five days by no more than two people. However, if works take more than five days or require more than two people, a proper Welfare Unit would be required. It’s likely that the closest point to the work site that this could be positioned would be at the borrow pit at the end of the track from Trawscoed Farm at around SH83438 33133. This would be approximately 20 minutes’ walk from the work site at Foel Boeth. Works cannot commence until the Contractor has made the agreed welfare solution available on site. NRW regularly receive UKWAS audits, and 9 the UKWAS auditors routinely inspect all aspects of paperwork associated with contracts. The implications of NRW not maintaining their UKWAS certification are serious.

B4.6 Safety reporting: Any accidents, however small, must be reported to the Supervisory Officer of the SNPA and entered into the site accident book, more serious accidents must be reported to the HSE. If incidents occur, either Health & Safety related or Environmental, then works must cease and the SNPA Supervisory Officer informed.

B4.7 Contractor competency: The Contractor shall ensure that all operators working on this Contract agreement have received necessary training and instruction to use tools and equipment in a safe and competent manner. As part of this duty of care the Contractor shall ensure that relevant, valid and appropriate training certificates are held by all operators using machinery on the Site.

B4.8 Forestry First Aid: It is NRW’s policy and a requirement of NRW’s UKWAS certification that a minimum of two operators on the work site at any one time have current Forestry First Aid certification, irrespective of whether they are using chainsaws or not. Forestry First Aid certification is equivalent to First Aid at Work (FAW+F) or Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW+F) regulated certification that has been provided through an Ofqual/SQA/Welsh Government accredited awarding body. In-date Personal Forestry First Aid Kits will need to be carried by each operator on site at all times, and an in-date Worksite/Squad First Aid Kit will need to be available at a central location on the work site at all times. Please see Appendix 3 – ‘First Aid Standard for those working on the Welsh Government Woodland Estate’ for a fuller explanation of NRW’s First Aid requirements.

B4.9 Pre-Commencement meeting: The Contractor and Supervisory Officer will meet before work commences. The Contractor will supply current Insurance and competence certificates, health and safety policies, emergency plan, and risk and welfare assessments at or before this meeting.

B5 Site safety: Environmental safeguards

B5.1 The Contractor will remove all rubbish and debris arising from the contract and leave the site in a clean and tidy condition except as allowed for in this contract. B5.2 The contractor must avoid working on site during excessively wet weather. A wet peat surface is more likely to be damaged than when the site is dry. B5.3 The Contractor will abide with best practice concerning Guidance for Pollution Prevention and UK Forestry Standards (see Section A5.3 above). If in any doubt, please contact the Supervisory Officer. B5.4 If a pollution incident occurs, work should stop immediately and Natural Resources Wales should be contacted immediately on 0800 8070600. Immediate remedial action will include stopping work and reinforcing all measures necessary to prevent pollution. The SNPA Supervisory Officer must also be informed. B5.5 Low ground pressure machinery should be used at all times. B5.6 The Contractor will abide by the provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, Environmental Protection Act 1990, Protection of Badgers Act 1992, Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 and The Conservation of Habitats and Species (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. If in any doubt, please contact the Supervisory Officer.

10 Tender:

I/We the undersigned submit a Tender for the execution of:

Ditch blocking & ditch re-profiling at Foel Boeth, Parc, Y Bala (SH832 340) in accordance with the conditions and specifications provided above and also those in my/our attached method statement as follows:

COST Specifications 1 & 2 (blocking and re-profiling £ + VAT artificial drainage ditches – 25,728 metres) Cost per 100m ditch blocking (1 dam per ≤10 metres) and complete re-profiling of ditches between each dam Number of 8 hour equivalent days: Cost of providing compliant Welfare £ + VAT Arrangements/Unit TOTAL cost for providing services, as outlined £ + VAT above

Please tick here if you are not registered for VAT …………………….. :

Day works rate per operator (with excavator)/per day

£……………………

Rate per 100m metre of ditch blocked (1 dam per ≤10 metres) and completely re- profiled

£……………………

Name of Contractor/company:………………………………………………………………………..

Address: ………………………….... ……………………………. ……………………………. ……………………………. ……………………………. Tel:……………………………….. Mobile:…………………………… E-mail:……………………………

Date:……………………………..

Signature:………………………………………….

11 C. Site maps and photographs Figure 1 – Foel Boeth Site Location Map showing identified permissive access route

12 Figure 2 – Ditch blocking and re-profiling works required (dotted red lines). Ditches mapped by GPS during December 2020 (see also Appendix 4)

Figure 3 – Aerial photograph from 2009 giving a rough idea of the areas where ditches were blocked every ~10 metres with peat dams (dark pools of water are visible behind many of the dams), See also Appendix 5

13 Photograph 1 – Typical view of ditches to be blocked and re-profiled at Foel Boeth (photo taken on 11th December 2020)

Photograph 2 – Typical view of ditches to be blocked and re-profiled at Foel Boeth (photo taken on 14th December 2020)

14 Photograph 3 – View looking down a previously blocked (but not re-profiled ditch) showing water pooled behind a peat dam (photo taken on 14th December 2020)

15 Photograph 4 – Typical view of ditch to be blocked and re-profiled at Foel Boeth (photo taken on 24th December 2020).

Photograph 5 – Typical view (looking south from near Foel Boeth) of the approach across heather moorland (foreground) from Trawscoed forest track (which runs along the right hand edge of the nearest sitka plantation) to Foel Boeth. Photo taken on 3rd February 2020).

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