Management of Fishlake Meadows Nature Reserve

Fishlake Meadows is a 60 hectare highly important ecologically diverse site located to the north of Romsey.

The site will be transferred to Test Valley Borough Council through a S106 agreement with the obligation to manage as a nature reserve whilst ensuring the works deliver key social objectives. Management of the site will be required which will include both capital infrastructure improvements to facilitate appropriate ecological management, improvements for public access and then ongoing management of the site as a nature reserve.

A comprehensive programme of community engagement, volunteer activity and educational work will also be delivered to ensure the community are offered the opportunity to be fully involved.

The management plan for the site was approved in 2016 and covers how we will proceed with site management over the next 10 years. The management plan is available at: http://www.testvalley.gov.uk/resident/ communityandleisure/fishlake-meadows-nature-reserve/fishlake-meadows-nature-reserve/

What we are looking for

The Council is considering the most appropriate options for managing the site including working with an external partner. The partner would take on responsibility for the setting out of the site, day to day delivery of the site management plan and all community development work.

It is important you can consider how you can fulfil the following

We seek a partner who:

1. Will deliver in full the objectives as set out in the Fishlake Meadows Management Plan
2. Has direct relevant experience managing site(s) of comparable, type size and complexity
3. Will operate with transparent financial reporting and shares the council vision of reinvestment of profits into the site
4. Is highly ecologically, ethically and socially responsible with the ability to influence and work with a broad range of partners
5. Has a proven track record of community engagement in nature reserve management
6. Can demonstrate added value with a range to staff covering key ecological and community development roles
7. Has previous and demonstrable success in raising external funding for site management (for comparable sites) and improvements works including government grants which will all be reinvested in the site.
8. The ability manage complex capital projects

The partner will be responsible for the management of the site as set out within the agreed management plan.

This arrangement will preferably run for up to 10 years with the potential for extension for 5 years.

Approximate management costs for the arrangement would be £50,000 per year. Capital projects will be in the region of £400,000 over the lifetime of the arrangement.

For more information please visit: http://www.testvalley.gov.uk/business/doingbusiness/tenders/fishlakepin/