GOV UK
Brief for archaeological survey ahead of woodland creation in England
Introduction
This brief sets out the requirements for an analytical archaeological survey associated with a current woodland creation proposal. It should be used by the woodland creation proposer to obtain at least three itemised quotes from suitably experienced, qualified and accredited archaeological contractors.
A specialist analytical archaeological survey is required because the woodland creation proposer, local authority historic environment/archaeological service and/or the Forestry Commission has identified indications of the historic environment are significant within the woodland creation proposal area/s (UK Forestry Standard historic environment guideline 5, Forestry Commission 2011 & 2017).
The results of the analytical archaeological survey will be used to inform a woodland creation design plan. They will be used to ensure the design plan is compliant with the UK Forestry Standard’s requirements and guidelines for the historic environment (Forestry Commission 2011 & 2017).
Requirements
The analytical archaeological survey must be carried out by a suitably qualified, accredited and experienced archaeological contractor. They should have experience of archaeological analytical earthwork/landscape survey and work to the requirements of Historic England’s guide to good recording practice for the archaeology of landscapes (2017b). They must also follow local archaeological standards and guidance, all relevant Chartered Institute for Archaeologists’ guidance and standards, and all other relevant historic environment, artefact and archives guidance.
Tendering archaeological contractors should prepare a proposal to detail:
• How – how will the brief be fulfilled i.e. a Method Statement or Written Scheme of Investigation demonstrating how the work will be undertaken.
• Who – identify the professional experts who will contribute to the project and demonstrate their professional expertise and proven track record in comparable projects. Details of all experts’ professional indemnity, public liability and employer’s liability must be provided, as must information on the quality control measures to be used by the lead archaeological contractor.
• When – a proposed timeline for the archaeological survey to include project set-up, desk study, fieldwork, assessment of impact on the setting of designated heritage assets, reporting and archive stages.
Tenders must:
• Itemise costs against each of the numbered sections of this brief, listing the task(s), time and cost against each of the numbered sections as listed below, using a standard pricing schedule (Annex 1). Where a quote is not itemised as requested, it will not be possible to compare it against others on a like-for-like basis and therefore it will not be considered (on the basis it is incomplete).
• Include day rates for all experts involved.
• Propose full, final and fixed costs.
• Indicate whether VAT will be added to the total cost.
• Clearly identify any contingency items for unknowns or additional work deemed to be appropriate.
• Consider all relevant legislation, regulations and best practice, including the the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979, the Treasure Act 1996 and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
Each archaeological contractor should submit a Method Statement and fixed-price fee proposal for the archaeological survey to the woodland creation proposer. These will be shared with the Forestry Commission. Both must be approved in writing by the Forestry Commission before the survey commences.
Site visits must be arranged in advance with the woodland creation proposer.
Tenders will be assessed by the Forestry Commission on the methodology proposed, compatibility with this brief, demonstration of quality and experience, and cost. The woodland creation proposer and the Forestry Commission offers no guarantee that the lowest or any tender will be accepted. Neither will be responsible for any costs incurred during the preparation of method statements/WSIs nor fee proposals.
Work included in the analytical archaeological survey
Part 1: Project set-up
Should include:
a) Health and Safety documentation, as required by relevant legislation.
b) Creation of an OASIS online record ().
c) Contacting the HER Officer of the relevant local Historic Environment Record/s (HER) to obtain a HER event number/parish code.
Part 2: Desk survey
Should include (but not necessarily be limited to):
d) Identification of designated assets in the vicinity of the woodland creation proposal area/s, using the National Heritage List () and the MAGIC map application ()
e) Securing the results of up-to-date HER and Historic Landscape Characterisation searches directly from the local Historic Environment Record/s. The use of online HER data is not appropriate in these circumstances.
f) Identification of heritage assets shown on historic maps, including any relevant maps held by the relevant local Record Office and those available online (such as at ).
g) Identification of heritage assets visible on aerial photographs and satellite images.
h) Identification of heritage assets visible in Environment Agency lidar data, where it is available for the woodland creation proposal area/s. It can be consulted online in a number of ways, including via , and .
Part 3: Archaeological fieldwork
The areas to be covered by the archaeological fieldwork will be identified on a map by the Forestry Commission. Archaeological fieldwork should include:
i) A Level 1 survey, as defined by Historic England 2017b.
j) The examination of all identified areas by walking transects, at appropriate intervals for the proposal area/s (as influenced by visibility and topography, for example). Intervals should be no more than c.50m.
k) Structured indexes of location, period, condition and type of historic features (written account items 1-5 and 12, Historic England 2017b).
l) Cartographic record, perhaps at 1:10,000, of the location and extent of each historic feature (items 13 and 14, Historic England 2017b). Structures, banks, ditches, mounds and other discrete features should be mapped individually where possible. Groups of closely related features, such as areas of ridge/rigg and furrow, can be mapped by area/extent.
m) the location of all visible heritage features using a combination of a GNSS/GPS and measured survey. The use of survey-grade/high-precision GNSS/GPS is encouraged, although it is recognised that mobile telephone coverage may prevent this; if this is the case, it must be explained in the archaeological contractor’s Method Statement and the survey equipment to be used described (hand-held navigation-grade GPS unit, theodolite, plane-table and/or tape measures, for example).
n) A photographic record of visible heritage features. If digital photography is used, the expected archive repository’s requirements for digital photographs/images must be followed.
Part 4: Assessment of the impact of the woodland creation proposal on the setting of designated heritage assets
The Forestry Commission will confirm with the woodland creation proposer when an assessment of the impact of a woodland creation proposal on the setting of designated heritage assets is required. It will not be necessary in all woodland creation cases.
When required, an assessment of impact on the setting of designated heritage assets should include:
o) Visits to all designated heritage assets that could be impacted by the woodland creation proposal.
p) A photographic record of the setting of the designated heritage assets visited.
q) Steps 1 to 5 of Historic England’s broad approach to assessment, as defined in Historic England’s good practice advice on the setting of heritage assets (Historic England 2017a).
Part 5: Post-fieldwork analysis and report
Should include:
r) A written and illustrated description of all historic environment features and artefacts discovered during the desk study and archaeological fieldwork. The description should be presented as a period-by-period narrative, with the results from both parts of work fully integrated. Reports that separately present the results of HER searches, aerial/satellite image, lidar data and historic map assessment, and fieldwork will not be approved by the Forestry Commission.
s) A written and illustrated account of the assessment of the impact of the woodland creation proposal on the setting of designated heritage assets.
t) Production of a fully illustrated analysis/grey literature report.
u) Revisions to the report, based on comments from the Forestry Commission.
v) If appropriate, submission of a paragraph summary to the relevant local archaeological journal for inclusion in an annual round-up of archaeological work.
Part 5: Archive
Should include:
w) Completion of the project’s OASIS record (including uploading of a digital copy of the Forestry Commission approved report).
x) Following its approval by the Forestry Commission, submission of the report to the relevant local Historic Environment Record/s (paper and digital copies).
y) Submission of the project’s physical and digital archives to an appropriate archive repository. The repository chosen will depend on the location and nature of any discoveries made and must be agreed with the landowner and the Forestry Commission.
Ownership (copyright and intellectual property)
If a Supplementary Payment Offer Letter is sent to you in accordance with the terms of the Woodland Creation Planning Grant Agreement (“Agreement”) to undertake the work in this Standard Brief, you are agreeing (and you will ensure that your contractors and your subcontractors agree):
that all rights, title and interest in or to any information, data, reports, documents, procedures, forecasts, technology, know-how and any other Intellectual Property Rights (whether registered or not) whatsoever owned by or licensed to either you or Forestry Commission before the Commencement Date or developed by either party under the Agreement, shall remain the property of that party;
that where any documents or materials (including, without limitation, any results, reports, surveys or assessments (“Outputs”)) are provided to the Forestry Commission or other public bodies under this Standard Brief, that the Forestry Commission and those bodies are entitled to use the Outputs without any further payment for an indefinite period and for any purposes, including publication;
that where you (and/or your contractors or sub-contractors) own any Intellectual Property Rights in the Outputs, you (and/or and your contractors and sub-contractors hereby grant a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual licence (with a right to sub-licence) to the Forestry Commission and other public bodies to use such Intellectual Property Rights to the extent necessary to give effect to paragraph (ii) above; and
to ensure that the third party owner of any Intellectual Property Rights in any Outputs grants to the Forestry Commission and other public bodies a non-exclusive, perpetual, royalty-free, worldwide and irrevocable licence to use the Outputs for any purposes, including publication.
For the purposes of the above paragraphs:
Commencement Date means the date of your written acceptance of the Stage 1 Offer Letter relating to the Agreement.
Intellectual Property Rights means all patents, copyright and design rights (whether registered or not) and all applications for any of the foregoing and all rights of protection for confidential information or know-how however arising, for their full term and any renewals and extensions.
Acknowledgements
This document is based on briefs produced for Countryside Stewardship funded historic environment projects, archaeological projects undertaken on land managed by Forestry England’s East England District, and on behalf of Norfolk County Council. The input of Natural England, Historic England and Norfolk County Council staff into these previous briefs is kindly acknowledged.
Advice provided by Northumberland County Council on several woodland creation cases has helped inform the production of this brief.
Bibliography
Forestry Commission 2011, Forests and the historic environment: UK Forestry Standard Guidelines, Forestry Commission, Edinburgh.
Forestry Commission 2017, UK Forestry Standard: The governments’ approach to sustainable forestry, Forestry Commission, Edinburgh.
Historic England 2017a, The Setting of Heritage Assets: Historic Environment Good Practice Advice in Planning Note 3, 2nd edition, Historic England, Swindon.
Historic England 2017b, Understanding the Archaeology of Landscapes, 2nd edition, Historic England, Swindon.
Annex 1: Pricing scheduling for archaeological survey ahead of woodland creation
Woodland creation proposal: [To be completed by Contractor]
Costs supplied by: [To be completed by Contractor]
Date of Quotation: [To be completed by Contractor]
OVERALL COSTS
|For the completion of/tasks |Sub-tasks |Cost ex. VAT |Cost incl. VAT (if |
| | | |applicable) |
|Task 1: Health and Safety | | | |
|documentation | | | |
|Task 2: Creation of OASIS record| | | |
|Task 3: Contacting local HER/s | | | |
|Tasks 4-8: Desk study | | | |
|Tasks 9-14: Archaeological | | | |
|fieldwork | | | |
|Tasks 15-17: Assessment of | | | |
|setting of designated heritage | | | |
|assets | | | |
|Task 18-20: Report | | | |
|Task 21: Revisions to the report| | | |
|Task 22: journal summary | | | |
|Task 23: Completing OASIS record| | | |
|Task 24: Submission of report to| | | |
|local HER/s | | | |
|Task 25: Submission of archive | | | |
|to appropriate repository | | | |
|OVERALL TOTAL | | | |
DAY RATES USED TO CALCULATE OVERALL COSTS
|Task/s |Sub-task/s |To be undertaken by |Cost ex. VAT |Cost incl. VAT (if |
| | | | |applicable) |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
Costs for all items should be based on the Forestry Commission’s Brief for archaeological survey ahead of woodland creation in England. In addition, itemise and cost individually all other work you identify as required in order to fulfil the brief (using the blank rows and any additional sheets necessary). The costings should include estimated expenses.
Signed
On Behalf of
Position
Company Address
Company Telephone
VAT number (where relevant)
Company registration number (where a limited company):
-----------------------
Brief for archaeological survey ahead of woodland creation in England
-----------------------
Brief for archaeological survey
................
................
In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.
To fulfill the demand for quickly locating and searching documents.
It is intelligent file search solution for home and business.