Ecology Update:

12/9/2016

This season our bird nest box scheme was a success, with half of our boxes occupied with either blue or great tits. This winter we aim to construct more boxes of different styles to attract and record a wider range of bird species including barn owls. I call upon all members who have an interest in birds or woodwork that would be willing to build and donate us nest boxes for our scheme, it would be a great help for preserving the wildlife on our beautiful site.

We have recorded a wide range of wild flower species this year including our newly seeded areas although the best is yet to come, with wild flower plots often taking over 18 months to establish. We are in talks with local farming contractors regarding cutting some of the long wild rough areas starting with the academy as a trial. By cutting and collecting the long rough the nutrients are removed that would normally return to the ground which in turn favours the finer grass species and wild flowers, making the rough more playable, visually appealing and ecologically sustainable.

 

This winter we will continue with our scrub clearance when weather allows, restoring areas to meadow species rich grassland and managed woodland. I call upon all members that are interested in donating any wild flowers to our cause, especially bluebells to plant in our cleared woodland areas.

Many of you may have seen small logs with holes drilled into them dotted around the course, these are bee hotels created for the solitary bee species to use to reproduce. I have also utilised our dry stone walls by inserting dry hog weed stems in them for the bees to use as nest sites. Many of our native bee species are in decline, so small steps like this aid their vulnerable population. Harvest mice are a species in decline due to habitat loss so this year we have also erected harvest mice nesting pods made from old tennis balls, all records will be forwarded on to the STRI.

The Heat Is On:

12/06/2016

The season is in full swing and we are preparing our surfaces with methods that ensure the best possible conditions for you to play. One thing you may have noticed is the white patches on the greens, these are the seed heads of the Poa annua grass plant reproducing. One method of control is vertical-cutting or verti-cutting as us greenkeepers like to refer to it. Vertical bladed units on one of our greens mowers are used to enter the canopy 1mm bellow our greens height of cut, standing up and removing a proportion of seed heads on the greens.

Verti-cutting in progress on the 14th green

An additional benefit to verti-cutting is the removal of dead roots, shoots and leaves (Thatch) and to stand up any lateral grass growth, which improves ball roll and surface speeds. In an ideal situation we would look to verti-cut once every two weeks during the growing season however sometimes excessive moisture or heat stress delay our operations as we have a duty of care towards the health of the grass plant.

We are in June and have already seen temperatures hit the mid-twenties. We apply a wetting agent monthly that allows the soil profile to hold on to as much moisture as possible and manage levels at times of heat stress and high evapotranspiration rates. We also hand water any localised dry spots with an additional wetting agent that breaks the surface tension and allows water to penetrate into the soil profile.

 

Hand watering to apply additional wetting agent.

Winter Scrub Clearance:

This winter we have undergone intensive management of some of our wild areas in-between holes In the way of scrub clearance and removal. These areas have been left un-managed for many years looking untidy and hindering ball location, potentially slowing up play. This starts the beginning of a long term management plan to restore these areas of scrub back to their former glory of flowing ecologically rich rough grassland with a mixture of fine grass species such as Fescue (Festuca) and wild flower, which frame holes, create definition, provide habitat for wildlife and vegetation whilst maintaining ball location and retrieval.

Before & after photo of scrub clearance right of the 5th green (Freeman, 2016).

 

There has been some concern regarding the loss of habitat for small birds within the scrub, however we are adopting a nest box scheme to replace any potential roosting/breeding sites lost. By creating a species rich grassland we will be providing birds, mammals and insects with the food and shelter they require, therefore benefitting local wildlife and golfer playability.

Photo of bird box construction styles ready for erection in cleared areas (Freeman, 2016).

We appreciate all the positive feedback we have received from you so far regarding these areas and will keep you up to date on any ecological issues on and around the course.

Photo of bird box in situ with a 38mm hole left of the 5th green (Freeman, 2016).