Two new wildlife towers are to be built in Ceredigion to provide habitats for bats, owls, kestrels and other species.

Ceredigion County Council has awarded a £60,775 contract for the construction and installation of the structures, with the first tower set to be built in Aberystwyth.

The project is being delivered on behalf of the Ceredigion Local Nature Partnership and is intended to improve biodiversity and provide habitat for a range of priority species. Animals specifically identified in the council's procurement documents include bats, barn owls, kestrels, little owls and invertebrates.

Aberystwyth-based Ellis D+B Ltd has been selected to carry out the work following an open competition. Four tenders were submitted for the contract, all from small and medium-sized businesses.

The council said the towers should be designed and constructed to a high standard while also supporting sustainable environmental design.

The procurement process placed an emphasis on the use of reclaimed, recycled and locally sourced materials, alongside efforts to minimise the environmental impact of the project.

The contract has a value of £60,775 excluding VAT, rising to £72,930 including VAT.

Documents originally published for the scheme said the project was expected to be completed by the end of December 2026, although the subsequent contract notice lists a period running into February 2027.

The council has not specified in the published notice exactly where in Aberystwyth the first tower will be located, or where the second Ceredigion tower is planned.

The project falls under environmental rehabilitation and endangered species protection work.

Ceredigion Local Nature Partnership brings together organisations and individuals working to conserve and improve nature across the county.

The new structures are intended to create dedicated spaces where several species can shelter, roost or nest as part of wider efforts to enhance local biodiversity.