1. Background
Newtown Mound is a Scheduled Monument of national significance located in Newtown, Powys. The Town Council, working in partnership with Heneb, Cadw, and other stakeholders, has developed a management and conservation plan to protect the monument while enhancing public access and interpretation. The site is not intended to be fenced off, nor will trees be felled unnecessarily; its ecological and wildlife value is central to the project’s design.
Following community excavations in 2022 – 2025, the Council now invites tenders from suitably qualified contractors to deliver the works outlined below.
2. Scope of Works
The project comprises the following key component
Component 2: Arboreal Works
- Undertake careful removal of small, invasive trees and cut back undergrowth to improve visibility of the mound.
- Ensure larger trees remain to preserve ecological and landscape value.
- All work to be guided by an arboriculture survey and ecological assessment.
Component 3: Controlled Access Improvements
- Design and install discreet access points and barriers to manage erosion and unauthorised use (e.g., by off-road bikes).
- Pathways must remain accessible to the public, sympathetic to the landscape, and compliant with heritage guidelines.
Component 4: New Access Route
- Construct a new controlled access route to the summit of the mound (e.g., steps/terraced path), designed to minimise erosion.
- Draw on precedents such as Castell Dinas Bran (Denbighshire Countryside Services).
- Materials and construction methods must be low-impact, durable, and conservation-sensitive.