Castle Ward Woodland Restoration Project

Castle Ward Estate, located within the Strangford Lough Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, contains a rare and ecologically important semi-natural broadleaf woodland. The woodland supports priority habitats and protected species including red squirrels, pine martens, and badgers, requiring careful management and protection throughout the restoration programme. The primary threat is the spread of invasive non-native species, particularly cherry laurel and Rhododendron ponticum, which suppress native plant regeneration and reduce overall biodiversity. This project seeks a Forest Works Manager to restore woodland health through invasive species control, sycamore thinning, enrichment planting of native species (especially hazel), and site clearance while ensuring full compliance with environmental legislation and best practice standards. The contractor must deliver all primary restoration works between 1 October 2026 and 28 February 2027, including invasive species removal, sycamore removal, native planting, and site clearance, with all cutting, felling, and arisings completed by 28 February 2027. Additional follow-up invasive species treatments will be required during 2027 and 2028 to ensure long-term restoration success. Opportunity Details: RFP closing date 10 August 2026; query deadline 1 August 2026; contract award 19 August 2026. Applications are submitted via the Proactis Plaza portal (supplierlive.proactisp2p.com) under The National Trust customer name. All communication must be conducted through the portal, and participating suppliers bear their own costs for proposal preparation.